SINGAPORE, 16 March 2026: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the escalating conflict in Iran is already impacting the Travel & Tourism sector across the Middle East by at least USD600 million per day in international visitor spending, as disruptions to air travel, traveller confidence and regional connectivity affect demand.
The Middle East plays a vital role in global travel, accounting for 5% of international arrivals and 14% of international transit traffic. Any disruption affects demand worldwide, which in turn impacts airports and flights, hotels, car hire companies, and cruise lines.
The major regional aviation hubs — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain — which together normally process around 526,000 passengers per day, have experienced closures and operational disruption as the conflict escalates, significantly affecting regional and global connectivity.
WTTC’s analysis is based on its 2026 pre-conflict forecast for the Middle East, which projected USD207 billion in international visitor spending across the region this year. Any disruption to travel flows, therefore, quickly translates into substantial economic impact across the tourism ecosystem.
Despite the current challenges, WTTC emphasises that Travel & Tourism is one of the world’s most resilient economic sectors.
WTTC research on previous crises shows that tourism demand can recover in as little as two months following security-related incidents when governments and industry act quickly to restore traveller confidence.
World Travel & Tourism Council, President & CEO Gloria Guevara said: “Travel & Tourism is the most resilient of sectors. The impact of international visitor spending across the Middle East is significant, averaging around USD600 million per day. Still, history shows that the sector can recover quickly, especially when governments support travellers with hotel subsidies or repatriation assistance. Our analysis of previous crises demonstrates that security-related incidents often see the fastest tourism recovery times, in some cases as quickly as two months, when governments and industry work together to restore traveller confidence. WTTC commends governments that have worked tirelessly in recent days to support recovery efforts.
“Clear communication, strong coordination between the public and private sectors, and measures that reinforce safety and stability are critical to rebuilding trust with travellers and supporting the sector’s recovery.”
WTTC, which represents the private sector, is continuing to monitor developments on behalf of its members and remains in close contact with governments and industry leaders to support the safety of travellers and the resilience of the global Travel & Tourism sector.
About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council is the global private-sector voice of the Travel & Tourism industry. Its members include chief executives of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism companies, spanning airlines, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators and technology firms. WTTC champions the economic and social contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP, employment, exports and wider societal benefits, helping shape policies, raise awareness, and foster public-private collaboration.
(Source: WTTC)
