According to a new report released at WTM London, international travel is set to reach a new high in 2026 despite conflict and rising costs. Europe is forecast to welcome 226 million more annual international arrivals by 2032 than in 2026.
Global travel is forecast to reach a record 1.57 billion international overnight arrivals in 2026, with Europe’s arrivals expected to rise by 5% as travellers increasingly choose destinations closer to home.
Despite conflict, higher airfares and cost-of-living constraints, international arrivals worldwide are set to increase by 2% compared with 2025, according to the WTM Global Travel Report 2026. Total visitor nights, including domestic and international travel, are expected to reach 23.9 billion. In-destination spending across both markets is forecast to rise by 9% to $7.8 trillion (€6.97 trillion).
Released on the opening day of World Travel Market (WTM) at London’s ExCeL, the report was produced by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, drawing on data covering more than 185 countries.
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Europe’s projected 5% increase in international overnight arrivals in 2026 puts its growth ahead of the global average, with the WTM report identifying the region as a particular beneficiary of changing travel patterns and trends.
Worldwide, trips within the same region are forecast to rise by 3% in 2026, while inter-regional journeys, including long-haul travel, decline by 3%.
Longer journeys have been particularly exposed to higher fares and safety concerns. The report points to higher oil prices pushing up inflation and travel costs, reduced capacity through Gulf aviation hubs and greater caution among travellers. The Middle East has experienced the sharpest downturn, with international arrivals forecast to fall by 40% this year.
Europe also remains the largest destination region for international leisure nights. These are forecast to increase by 4% in 2026.
