Atm 2026 Travel Trends Panel
The newly unveiled ATM Travel Trends Report reveals that international visitor spending in the Middle East will increase by $116 billion between 2025 and 2030. Published by Arabian Travel Market in partnership with Tourism Economics, the research projects a 57 percent rise in regional expenditure over the five-year period. Total travel activity across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia region continues to outpace global recovery averages.
Key Data from the ATM Travel Trends Report
According to the findings, global travel reached record levels in 2025 with total visitor nights reaching 24 billion, which stands 16 percent above 2019 figures. Meanwhile, destination spending worldwide reached $7.2 trillion as international arrivals crossed 1.5 billion for the first time. The wider MENASA territory generated more than half of the global increase in cross-border trips during the same timeframe, expanding its overall volume by nearly 50 percent compared to 2019 metrics in the broader economy.
Although geopolitical factors may create temporary friction during 2026, analysts anticipate international travel across MENASA will rebound by 17 percent in 2027. This projection is more than double the forecast global growth rate of 8 percent. Furthermore, recovery windows following major disruptions have narrowed to 10 to 12 months, down from 24 months two decades ago.
Long-Haul Travel and Market Forecasts Through 2030
Long-distance origins represent a major driver for future regional momentum. Specifically, leisure room nights from China to Middle Eastern destinations are projected to climb 160 percent by 2030. In total, regional cross-border travel is expected to reach 316 million arrivals and 2.3 billion visitor nights by the end of the decade, producing $408 billion in spending.
“Over the next five years we see travel expanding on a structural basis rather than just a cyclical rebound. International travel has never mattered more, 2026 is building on a record 2025, and MENASA is outpacing the world.”
Dave Goodger, Managing Director EMEA, Tourism Economics
Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Regional Operations
Digital transformation remains central to hospitality growth across regional destinations. The ATM Travel Trends Report notes that 91 percent of regional travel businesses are piloting or deploying AI tools within their internal operations. Furthermore, 85 percent of those organizations report measurable operational cost reductions as a direct outcome.
Consumer behavior mirrors this digital shift across booking channels. Potential visitors to regional hubs are twice as likely to use conversational assistants to structure itineraries, with 28 percent utilizing automated platforms compared to 12 percent for other global destinations, transforming modern tourism services.
Expanding Regional Hospitality Capacity
Hotel inventory across key Gulf hubs continues to expand alongside incoming traveler volumes. During a panel discussion, industry leaders noted that Dubai expanded its hospitality footprint from roughly 45,000 keys in 2008 to approximately 170,000 keys today, while Abu Dhabi operates around 55,000 keys. Executives stressed that regional connectivity and local digital customization will sustain this long-term expansion.
