Greece posted one of the strongest tourism performances in Europe this year, as shifting Mediterranean travel patterns pushed more visitors toward Southern European destinations, according to UN Tourism.
International arrivals in Greece rose 15% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, a rate matched only by Ireland among European destinations. Tourism earnings in the country climbed by the same margin over the same period, UN Tourism said.
The growth was part of a broader shift in Southern Mediterranean Europe, which grew 4% in the first half of the year as some destinations benefited from the redirection of travel away from the Middle East, the report said.
A conflict in that region caused international arrivals there to fall 22% between January and June, prompting travelers to shift their trips toward Southern Europe and other nearby destinations.
Greece Tourism surge reflects wider Mediterranean travel trends
Europe as a whole, the world’s largest destination region, welcomed almost 350 million international tourists in the first half of 2026, a 3% increase from the same period last year.
Central and Eastern Europe grew 4% and reached pre-pandemic arrival levels, while Northern Europe rose 3%. Western Europe was the exception, declining 1% after heat waves in June and weaker demand from long-haul travelers hurt several destinations.
Beyond Greece, other European countries also posted double-digit growth. Uzbekistan and Moldova each recorded a 25% rise in arrivals, outpacing Greece’s gain, the data showed.
Globally, however, tourism grew far more slowly. Worldwide arrivals rose just 0.4% in the first half of 2026, weighed down by instability in the Middle East, high oil prices and broader inflation pressures. An estimated 690 million people traveled internationally between January and June, about 3 million more than the same period in 2025.
Middle East conflict drags down global tourism outlook
UN Tourism said the gains in Mediterranean travel, including strong tourism growth in Greece, were not enough to offset a global slowdown tied to the Middle East conflict.
The organization now expects global arrivals to grow between 1% and 2% in 2026, down from an earlier forecast of 3% to 4% issued in January. The outcome will depend on how long the conflict lasts and its effect on oil prices and inflation, the report noted.
Despite the uncertainty, a survey of the UN Tourism Panel of Experts found cautious optimism for the rest of the year. About 45% of experts surveyed expected better or much better performance between September and December, compared with 34% who expected results similar to last year and 21% who expected a decline.
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