00:01Global travel is forecast to reach a record 1.57 billion international overnight arrivals
00:08in 2026, with Europe's arrivals expected to rise by 5 percent as travellers increasingly
00:14choose destinations closer to home. Despite conflict, higher airfares and cost
00:20of living constraints, international arrivals worldwide are set to increase by 2 percent
00:25compared with 2025, according to the WTM Global Travel Report 2026.
00:32Europe's projected 5 percent increase in international overnight arrivals in 2026 puts its growth ahead
00:39of the global average, with the WTM report identifying the region as a particular beneficiary
00:44of changing travel patterns and trends. Worldwide, trips within the same region are
00:50forecast to rise by 3 percent in 2026, while interregional journeys including long-haul travel
00:56declined by 3 percent. Looking further ahead, Europe is expected to record the largest absolute
01:02increase in international arrivals of any region. Annual arrivals are forecast to rise by 226 million
01:10between 2026 and 2032, with average growth of around 4 percent a year.
01:17International visitors account for around a third of Europe's leisure spending,
01:21the highest share among the three largest regional markets, which include Europe, Asia and North America.
