[Edaily Reporter LEE SEON-WOO ] Forecasts indicate that the number of international tourists worldwide will reach 1.57 billion this year. Although the growth rate is expected to slow to 2%, the number of tourists is projected to hit an all-time high.
Analysts note that the global tourism market continues to grow despite adverse factors such as ongoing armed conflicts in the Middle East, rising oil prices and airfares, and high inflation. Growth trends in regional tourism markets are also diverging, as demand for long-distance travel declines while demand for medium- and short-distance travel increases.
According to the “2026 Global Travel Report” released at the “World Travel Market” (WTM) held in London, UK, earlier this month, the number of international tourists worldwide this year is projected to reach 1.57 billion, a 2% increase from last year. Based on last year’s estimated tourist count of approximately 1.539 billion, this represents an increase of about 31 million.
By region, Africa and Oceania each saw an 8% increase, while Europe saw a 5% increase, all exceeding the global average. Asia and North America are projected to grow by 2% each, and Central and South America by 4%. In contrast, the Middle East is expected to see a sharp 40% decline in international tourists compared to last year.

Organized by the global exhibition company “RX Global,” WTM is a tourism industry trade show featuring participation from national tourism boards, travel agencies, airlines, and hotels from around the world. The event, held at the ExCeL London exhibition center from the 3rd to the 5th, drew over 4,000 companies and organizations from approximately 180 countries.
WTM compiled this report in collaboration with Tourism Economics, a division of the global economic analysis firm Oxford Economics. Based on tourism market data from more than 185 countries, the report analyzed global tourism demand, consumption trends, and medium- to long-term growth prospects.
The report highlighted the increase in intraregional travel and the decline in interregional travel as key shifts in this year’s global tourism market. Intraregional international travel—visits to countries within the same region—is projected to rise by 3% compared to last year, while international travel to other regions is expected to decline by 3%. The report noted, “Demand for long-haul travel has been dampened by political instability in the Middle East, rising airfares due to higher oil prices, and safety concerns.”
The WTM report analyzed that a consumer trend is spreading in which travelers seek to save on travel expenses while still spending generously on unique experiences. In fact, 56% of respondents in the survey expressed interest in both budget travel and luxury travel. The percentage of respondents who reported spending money on luxury travel experiences rose from 41% last year to 49% this year. This is interpreted as one of the reasons why the growth rate of tourism spending is higher than the growth rate of tourist numbers.
Meanwhile, the report predicted that growth in the global tourism market will pick up again starting next year. It projected that, provided geopolitical instability and flight disruptions ease, the number of international tourists in 2027 will increase by 8% compared to this year. It also projected that inter-regional travel, which declined this year, will rebound by 11%. In the medium to long term, the report forecast that by 2032, global international tourist arrivals will reach 2.2 billion, with tourism spending totaling $11.3 trillion.