The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says the conflict in Iran is already costing the travel and tourism sector at least $600m a day in international visitor spending in the Middle East. Air traffic disruption, less traveler confidence and logistics disruptions are all weighing heavily on tourism demand.

The region accounts for about 5% of international tourist arrivals and 14% of global air transit traffic, amplifying the impact of disruption across the industry's ecosystem, from airlines to hotels, as well as car rental firms and cruise operators.

Major air hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain - which typically handle nearly 526,000 passengers every day - have seen closures or operational disruption, sharply affecting regional and global connectivity.

Before the conflict, the WTTC had forecast around $207bn in international visitor spending in the region in 2026. The organization notes, however, that tourism remains one of the most resilient economic sectors and that, in previous security crises, demand has sometimes rebounded in as little as two months when governments and the industry act quickly to restore traveler confidence.