International travel demand for the first half of 2026 shows modest overall growth, with Western Asia gaining market share among international travel demand, according to a new analysis from Mabrian, the global travel intelligence and tourism advisory partner, part of The Data Appeal Company..
Besides considering international air capacity, Mabrian analysis tracks global flight search behaviour to the top 50 airports in each world region, focusing exclusively on international demand. Covering 86.7% of global travel demand, the study focuses on the market share of each world region over total flight searches. This methodology provides a standardised approach to comparing the evolution of travel intent across regions.
Western Asia strengthens its relative position in early 2026, gaining market share among world demand: it captures 8.9% of total international inspirational demand during the first half of this year and outperforms the same period in 2025. The region is showing the strongest upward trend in travel intent worldwide, with Jeddah y Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Doha (Qatar), Muscat (Oman), and Kuwait among the top destinations growing in travel intent within Western Asia region.
In fact Jeddah y Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), as well as Doha (Qatar), are among the top 10 destinations growing in travel intent globally, along with Jakarta (Indonesia), Hanoi (Vietnam), Ho Chi Min (Vietnam), Seoul (South Korea), Moscow (Russian Federation), Manila (The Philippines), and Tokyo (Japan).
Notably, the GCC countries are also increasing international air capacity by +3.6% over the next six months compared to the same period last year, including key overseas source markets such as the UK (+5,6%), United States (+3,3%), Germany and Russia Federation (+7.2%).
“Western Asia’s growth is underpinned by both well-established hubs, such as Dubai and Doha, and emerging destinations,” said Carlos Cendra, Director of Marketing and Communications at Mabrian.“Countries across the GCC are increasingly attracting travellers from Europe, Asia, and North America, with destinations such as Riyadh, Doha, and Muscat emerging as must-visit gateways.”
Interestingly, despite the recent protests and unrest in Iran, global travel intent toward Western Asia and GCC destinations remains stable in the first quarter of 2026. A slight dip in market share in February is followed by a rebound in March that marginally exceeds last year’s levels, highlighting the resilience of the region’s demand. This performance underscores “the critical role that a strong destination reputation plays in cushioning the impact of unforeseen events on travel demand,” according to a Mabrian expert.
