Mediterranean tourism powers ahead as Europe records resilient travel growth
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Southern Mediterranean Europe remains one of the continent’s strongest-performing tourism regions, with international arrivals rising by 4% in the first quarter of 2026, according to a new report by Amadeus Travel Intelligence and UN Tourism.
Europe welcomed more than 130 million international tourists during the first three months of the year, while passenger traffic increased by 2.3% and hotel occupancy rose by 2% compared with the previous year, underlining the sector’s resilience despite higher travel costs and global economic uncertainty.
The Mediterranean is expected to remain the busiest region this summer, with air passenger volumes and scheduled airline seats reaching almost 70 million during July and August. The region is also leading Europe in air connectivity, adding around 1,100 new flight routes over the past year, including new links from China to Greece, Ethiopia to Portugal and Slovakia to Spain.
Spain continues to dominate as Europe’s most searched-for and booked destination, while Greece, Italy and Malta remain among the region’s strongest performers. The report also points to growing interest in destinations offering cultural experiences and nature-based tourism.
Travellers are also planning further ahead, with more than half of bookings to Southern and Mediterranean Europe made at least one month before departure. The largest share of bookings is made between 61 and 180 days in advance, reflecting sustained confidence in the region as Europe’s leading holiday destination despite continued economic headwinds.
