Tourist arrivals reach new record but the sector must adapt to keep growing.
International tourist arrivals in OECD countries rose by an estimated 3.4% in 2025 to reach a record 847 million, building on strong growth of 8.1% in 2024. However, as geopolitical tensions, shifting traveller behaviour, and extreme weather-related events continue to shape the tourism landscape, destinations will need to strengthen their ability to anticipate and adapt to uncertainty, according to a new OECD report.
OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2026 shows that the conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global travel flows and increased costs, which is weighing on traveller confidence. Countries in the region are most impacted, along with destinations reliant on the Gulf for air connectivity. These effects are likely to persist in the near term.
"Tourism continues to grow, generating business opportunities, jobs and tax revenues across the OECD,” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said. “Governments and businesses need to work together to sustain this growth and build resilience. This means applying the lessons of the pandemic and the conflict in the Middle East to strengthen crisis preparedness, and managing tourism and visitor flows to ensure the sector delivers lasting benefits.”
Read more on the website of the OECD
