International visitor numbers to Europe have increased by 5% so far in 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, despite turbulence across the tourism sector caused by rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty, Euronews reports.
According to the latest trends and prospects quarterly report from the European Travel Commission (ETC), European tourism continued to perform strongly in the second quarter of the year with overnight stays increasing by 4.8%.
The stable performance comes despite “weaker consumer confidence, rising affordability pressures and disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East”, said the ETC, which affected aviation flows between Europe and certain mid-haul and long-haul markets.
While consumers are still planning to travel, the report found that “choices are becoming more selective”. Travellers are “increasingly looking for destinations that are perceived as safer, offer good value for money and are easier to reach”, while trips continue to spread more evenly across the year.
“European tourism has continued to show resilience in Q2 2026, despite a more uncertain global environment,” said Miguel Sanz, President of the ETC. “Travel remains a priority for consumers, but the way people travel is changing.
“Affordability, safety, proximity and value for money are becoming increasingly important in destination choice. For European destinations, the priority will be to remain competitive while supporting more balanced visitor flows across regions and seasons.”
