Moldova, Greece and Ireland: Where tourist arrivals are on the rise in Europe this year

World tourism growth slowed to just 0.4% in the first half of 2026, with Europe experiencing a modest 3% increase in tourist arrivals, according to the latest UN Tourism Barometer. Europe was one of the top performers globally, alongside Africa, which saw the most significant growth at 4%. However, this growth was not consistent across the continent, with some regions experiencing declines.

Western Europe saw a slight drop of 1% in arrivals, attributed to heatwaves in June and weaker demand for long-haul travel in some destinations during the second quarter of 2026. In contrast, Southern Mediterranean Europe and Central Eastern Europe witnessed a 4% growth, while Northern Europe saw a 3% increase.

The Middle East faced a significant decline of 22% in tourist arrivals, while South Asia saw a 5% drop, and South East Asia experienced a 1% decrease. Shaikha Al Nuwais, the UN Tourism Secretary-General, emphasized that the Middle East's situation had impacted destinations beyond the region, highlighting the need for resilience in the tourism industry.

In Europe and the Asia Pacific, the conflict has led to a shift in tourism demand towards nearby and more accessible destinations. Moldova led the pack in Europe, with a remarkable 25% increase in tourist arrivals during the first half of the year. Greece and Ireland also experienced a 15% rise in visitors.

On a global scale, destinations with the most significant growth included El Salvador (+37%), Paraguay (+34%), Bhutan (+31%), Vanuatu (+30%), Palau (+29%), Mongolia (+27%), Uzbekistan (+25%), and South Korea (+21%). Despite the overall slowdown in international arrivals, which is projected to grow only 1% to 2% in 2026, compared to the earlier forecast of 3% to 4%, there are promising signs for the future.