A new resource now available to ICCA Members in MyICCA: The ATM Travel Trends Report 2026. The report provides a broad view of the travel and tourism outlook across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA), highlighting the region’s growing global significance, evolving visitor markets and the opportunities emerging across tourism and business events.
ICCA and Oxford Economics: Putting Business Events on the Map
ICCA collaborated with Oxford Economics on the report, authoring the Business Events section. This section was produced with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, while Tourism Economics is the publisher of the overall report.
This collaboration is a valuable recognition of ICCA’s expertise and data leadership. The inclusion of ICCA-authored analysis within a major, independently produced tourism outlook demonstrates the increasing importance of business events data in understanding the wider travel economy.
The report highlights the significant role business events are playing in the Middle East’s growth trajectory. Business visits already represent a substantial share of GCC arrivals, while association meeting participation in the region has nearly doubled over the past decade. Looking ahead, international business travel across MENASA is projected to grow strongly through 2030, supported by investment in business events infrastructure, major events and expanding international business ties.
A Broader View of a Region with Growing Potential
Beyond business events, the ATM Travel Trends Report 2026 offers valuable insight into the wider Middle East and MENASA tourism landscape. It examines changing source markets, visitor demand, infrastructure investment, technology, sustainability, premium travel and the evolving role of the region within global tourism.
The report points to continued structural growth across MENASA, with the Middle East expected to increase its share of global international visitor nights through 2030. The GCC, in particular, is identified as a major driver of inbound growth, supported by sustained investment in tourism infrastructure, destination development and major events.
ICCA: Lead with Data
Making high-quality intelligence accessible to our members is an important part of ICCA’s Lead with Data pillar. Through resources such as this report, we are continuing to equip the ICCA community with the insights and evidence needed to understand market developments, identify opportunities and make informed decisions.
We encourage you to explore the ATM Travel Trends Report 2026, now available as a resource in MyICCA.
