- ATM Travel Trends Report 2026 forecasts 17pc rebound
- MENASA region growth more than twice global rate
- Middle East visitor spending projected to grow by $116bn
- Regional volumes expected to reach 316m arrivals by 2030
- Recovery timelines accelerated to 10 to 12 months
The ATM Travel Trends Report 2026 has confirmed that international travel across the Middle East North Africa and South Asia region is projected to rebound by 17pc in 2027. This forecast co-produced by the Arabian Travel Market and Tourism Economics indicates a growth rate that is more than twice the projected global expansion rate of 8pc for the same year.
While geopolitical challenges are expected to cause an approximate 14pc drop in international travel to the MENASA region during 2026 a rapid structural turnaround is predicted for 2027. International visitor spending in the Middle East alone is projected to grow by $116bn (€99.07bn) roughly a 57pc increase between 2025 and 2030 eventually reaching around $408bn. By 2030 total regional volumes are expected to climb to 316m arrivals and 2.3bn visitor nights.
Historically global travel markets took up to 24 months to bounce back from major structural interruptions however modern data highlights that regional recovery timelines have accelerated significantly to just 10 to 12 months.
