“Middle East sector can recover quickly,” says WTTC President

The Middle East travel and tourism sector faces losses of up to US$600 million a day following disruption caused by the Iran war, which began on 28 February 2026, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

 

Accounting for around 5% of global international arrivals and 14% of transit traffic, the Middle East region plays a key role in global travel, with disruption affecting flows across aviation, hospitality and related sectors.

 

Major hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain, which typically handle around 526,000 passengers per day, have faced operational disruption, affecting both regional and international connectivity.

 

The estimate is based on a pre-disruption 2026 forecast of US$207 billion in international visitor spending across the Middle East and highlights how quickly any slowdown in travel flow translates into economic impact across airlines, hotels and tourism services.

 

WTTC research of previous crises shows that tourism demand following security-related incidents, with the right response, can recover in as little as two months when governments and industry act quickly to restore traveller confidence.

 

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Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC said: “The impact of international visitor spending across the Middle East is significant and averages around US$600 million per day, but history shows that the sector can recover quickly, especially when governments support travellers through hotel support or repatriation.”

 

“Our analysis of previous crises demonstrates that security-related incidents often see the fastest tourism recovery times, in some cases as quickly as two months, when governments and industry work together to restore traveller confidence,” she added.

 

Recent estimates from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) suggest the total financial impact of the war will ultimately fall in the billions. During an April 2026 meeting, Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said tourist numbers could decline by between 8 million and 19 million in 2026, with potential revenue losses of between US$13 billion and US$32 billion.

 

“The developments we are witnessing today have cast a shadow over the vital tourism sector, impacting travel patterns, the pace of tourism activity and the stability of related markets,” he added.

 

Separate data from Smith Travel Research (STR) shows how the disruption has already affected regional performance. Hotel occupancy across parts of the Middle East declined sharply in March, with some destinations recording levels as low as 21%.

 

Guevara said that clear communication, coordination between the public and private sectors, and measures to reinforce safety will be key to restoring traveller confidence and supporting recovery.

For more information, visit www.wttc.org