TOURISE and Oxford Economics released a report on global tourism resilience on Monday, finding that destinations acting before disruption strikes recover up to 1.5 times faster than those that wait. The study, based on analysis of 85 major crises over two decades, noted that average recovery times have fallen from roughly 24 months in the early 2000s to 10–12 months today.
The report models three scenarios for the current Middle East crisis: global travel demand grows about 6% in 2026 if the ceasefire holds, dips 1% if hostilities resume, or declines 3% and stays weak into 2027 under sustained disruption. It also flagged the power of misinformation, noting that viral megaquake rumors drove booking drops of up to 50% from some East Asian markets in 2025.
Global tourism remains broadly robust. International arrivals hit a record 1.52 billion in 2025, and Saudi Arabia welcomed 37.2 million visitors in the first quarter of 2026, reaching its 100 million annual-visitor target seven years early.