by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:30 AM ET, Wed March 11, 2026
As the war in the Middle East between the U.S. and Israel against Iran drags on, the cost to the global travel industry will only grow—a cost the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates is at least $600 million per day in international visitor spending.
The Middle East accounts for 14 percent of global international transit and 5 percent of global international arrivals, so disruptions to this region impacts demand worldwide, from commercial aviation to the cruise sector.
Major international airports in the region, like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain, also process over half a million passengers per day.
Yet the airports have become targets of wartime acts, closing, partially closing, restricting airspace and canceling tens of thousands of flights since the conflict began on February 28, stranding millions of travelers within the conflict zone.
Gas prices are also going up, and we’re seeing the cost of aviation fuel skyrocket, causing airlines around the world to start increasing fares.
Prior to the beginning of the war, WTTC’s economic analysis projected the region to generate $207 billion in international visitor spending this year. Disruptions, the organization says, “quickly translates into substantial economic impact across the tourism ecosystem.”
“Travel & Tourism is the most resilient of sectors,” said Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC. “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 travelers through hotel support or repatriation…WTTC commends governments who have worked tirelessly in recent days to support recovery efforts.”
While the impact remains huge, the organization’s previous research shows that tourism demand can recover in as little as two months following a security-related incident with the right response by governmental and tourism bodies.
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