WTTC predicts that the conflict with Iran is already costing the travel and tourism sector a lot of money | News
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the escalating conflict in Iran is already impacting the Middle East travel and tourism sector with at least $600 million per day in international visitor spending, as disruptions to air travel, traveler confidence and regional connectivity impact demand.
The Middle East plays a crucial role in global travel, with the region responsible for 5% of global international arrivals and 14% of global international transit traffic. Any disruption will impact global demand, impacting airports and flights, hotels, car rental companies and cruise lines.
Key regional aviation hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain, which normally handle around 526,000 passengers a day, have suffered closures and operational disruptions as the conflict escalated, significantly affecting regional and global connectivity.
WTTC’s analysis is based on the 2026 pre-conflict forecast for the Middle East, which forecast $207 billion in international visitor spending in the region this year. Any disruption to travel flows therefore quickly translates into substantial economic consequences for the entire tourism ecosystem.
Despite current challenges, WTTC emphasizes that travel and tourism is one of the most resilient economic sectors in the world.
WTTC research into past crises shows that, with the right response, tourism demand after safety-related incidents can recover in as little as two months if governments and industry act quickly to restore traveler confidence.
Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, said:
“Travel and tourism is the most resilient of all sectors. The impact of international visitor spending in the Middle East is significant, averaging around $600 million per day, but history shows that the sector can recover quickly, especially when governments support travelers through hotel assistance or repatriation. Our analysis of past crises shows that security-related incidents often have the fastest recovery times for tourism, in some cases as little as two months, when governments and industry work together to restore traveler confidence.WTTC commends governments that have worked tirelessly in recent days to support the recovery efforts.
“Clear communication, strong coordination between the public and private sectors and measures that strengthen security and stability are crucial to rebuilding traveler confidence and supporting the sector’s recovery.”
WTTC, which represents the private sector, continues to monitor developments on behalf of its members and remains in close contact with governments and industry leaders to support the safety of travelers and the resilience of the global travel and tourism sector.
