TOURISE and Oxford Economics Release New Global Report on Tourism Resilience in an Era of Permanent Disruption

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - TOURISE, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, today released a new report, “Resilience in a World that Doesn’t Reset: Redesigning Tourism for an Era of Permanent Disruption.” The analysis of 85 major crises over two decades shows a clear pattern: in a world defined by continuous shocks, destinations that act before disruption hits recover up to 1.5 times faster than those that wait.

In a world that does not reset between crises, disruption is a constant feature of the global tourism landscape. The real test for destinations measures how they prepare for volatility, protect traveler confidence, and maintain continuity ahead of such events.

His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of TOURISE

Using the current Middle East crisis as a lens, where Gulf hubs carry roughly 14 percent of global transit traffic, the report provides investors and policymakers with practical guidance for navigating a system in which disruption is now the norm. Key findings include:

• Three scenarios, one conclusion: recovery depends on confidence, connectivity, and affordability. The report models three pathways for the current Middle East crisis. If the ceasefire holds, global travel grows about 6 percent in 2026; if hostilities resume, it falls about 1 percent; and under sustained disruption, it declines about 3 percent and remains weak into 2027. Across every scenario, the report concludes that recovery is determined less by the crisis itself than by how quickly confidence, connectivity, and affordability can be restored.

• Confidence now travels faster than people. In 2025, viral rumors of a megaquake drove booking declines of up to 50 percent from some East Asian markets despite no scientific basis, showing how misinformation can depress demand before any physical disruption.

• Tourism is recovering faster, but systemic crises are the new test. Average recovery times fell from about 24 months in the early 2000s to 10 to 12 months today. However, increasingly complex, multi-country disruptions are beginning to slow this trend.

• Preparation is becoming a competitive advantage. Saudi Arabia, which welcomed 37.2 million tourists in the first quarter of 2026, an 8 percent year-on-year increase despite regional volatility, and reached its 100 million annual-visitor target seven years early, illustrates how diversification under Saudi Vision 2030 translates into measurable resilience.

Global tourism has proven remarkably resilient, reaching a record 1.52 billion international arrivals in 2025 despite a decade defined by natural and man-made disasters. The lesson learned is that resilience can be built before disruption occurs, in the actions destinations take to prepare. In a world that no longer resets between crises, preparedness is becoming a core measure of competitiveness.

Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics

The full report is available now at www.TOURISE.com.