{"id":2036542,"date":"2026-07-10T11:06:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T08:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2036542"},"modified":"2026-07-10T11:06:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T08:06:28","slug":"travel-to-europe-continues-to-grow-in-2026-with-greece-italy-and-malta-leading-the-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2036542","title":{"rendered":"Travel to Europe continues to grow in 2026 with Greece, Italy and Malta leading the way"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/35\/33\/1200x675_cmsv2_e258767b-3c99-552e-af20-37c151844ea6-9833533.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2908819-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2908819\" data-cid=\"9833322\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908819-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/33\/22\/189x106_cmsv2_6ac3e92b-3362-5dea-989e-7e2a8ceeef4a-9833322.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Laura Codruta Kovesi, the head European Public Prosecutor&apos;s Office (EPPO) \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Hungary&#8217;s bid to join European Prosecutor&#8217;s Office accepted\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908850-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2908850\" data-cid=\"9833454\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908850-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/34\/54\/189x106_cmsv2_1bbfd960-a3fa-5ea2-ab19-867c9b13d3a8-9833454.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Cuban doctor Daysi Luperon Loforte helps lift up a patient hospitalized in Polistena.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Italy&#8217;s Calabria defies US pressure to drop its Cuban doctors\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908705-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2908705\" data-cid=\"9832727\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908705-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/27\/27\/189x106_cmsv2_4873ae80-37cf-56fd-a9a6-d52be4d72c82-9832727.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Roland Lescure, French Economics and Finance Minister\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French economy minister on Spain&#8217;s debt proposal: &#8216;It&#8217;s interesting&#8217;\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908801-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2908801\" data-cid=\"9833310\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908801-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/31\/47\/189x106_cmsv2_b13fca9f-3617-5810-9303-8241e28ed91c-9833147.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"French supporters watch a broadcast of the World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco in Paris on Thursday 9 July 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    17-year-old girl dies during France World Cup celebrations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908819-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2908819\" data-cid=\"9833322\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908819-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/33\/22\/189x106_cmsv2_6ac3e92b-3362-5dea-989e-7e2a8ceeef4a-9833322.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Laura Codruta Kovesi, the head European Public Prosecutor&apos;s Office (EPPO) \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Hungary&#8217;s bid to join European Prosecutor&#8217;s Office accepted\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908850-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2908850\" data-cid=\"9833454\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908850-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/34\/54\/189x106_cmsv2_1bbfd960-a3fa-5ea2-ab19-867c9b13d3a8-9833454.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Cuban doctor Daysi Luperon Loforte helps lift up a patient hospitalized in Polistena.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Italy&#8217;s Calabria defies US pressure to drop its Cuban doctors\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908705-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2908705\" data-cid=\"9832727\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908705-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/27\/27\/189x106_cmsv2_4873ae80-37cf-56fd-a9a6-d52be4d72c82-9832727.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Roland Lescure, French Economics and Finance Minister\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French economy minister on Spain&#8217;s debt proposal: &#8216;It&#8217;s interesting&#8217;\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908801-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2908801\" data-cid=\"9833310\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908801-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/31\/47\/189x106_cmsv2_b13fca9f-3617-5810-9303-8241e28ed91c-9833147.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"French supporters watch a broadcast of the World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco in Paris on Thursday 9 July 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    17-year-old girl dies during France World Cup celebrations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Travel<\/p>\n<p>                          Travel News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Travel to Europe continues to grow in 2026 with Greece, Italy and Malta leading the way<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/35\/33\/1536x864_cmsv2_e258767b-3c99-552e-af20-37c151844ea6-9833533.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Greece is one of Europe\u2019s strongest performers for tourism\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Greece is one of Europe\u2019s strongest performers for tourism<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Photo by Jim Niakaris on Unsplash<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Photo by Jim Niakaris on Unsplash\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspMike Starling\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1783681588\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-07-10 13:06:28 +02:00\">10\/07\/2026 &#8211; 13:06 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-close\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content u-display-flex\">\n<div id=\"share-comment-popup-content-container\" 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decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"telegram\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"vk\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>VK<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"vk\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Amid turbulence across the tourism sector, international visitor numbers to Europe increased by 5% year-to-date, according to European Travel Commission data, with Greece, Italy and Malta recording the largest increases in arrivals.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--travel js-article-content\">\n<p>International visitor numbers to Europe have increased by 5% so far in 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, despite turbulence across the tourism sector caused by rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to the latest trends and prospects quarterly report from the European Travel Commission (ETC), European tourism continued to perform strongly in the second quarter of the year with overnight stays increasing by 4.8%. <\/p>\n<p>The stable performance comes despite \u201cweaker consumer confidence, rising affordability pressures and disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East\u201d, said the ETC, which affected aviation flows between Europe and certain mid-haul and long-haul markets.<\/p>\n<p>While consumers are still planning to travel, the report found that \u201cchoices are becoming more selective\u201d. Travellers are \u201cincreasingly looking for destinations that are perceived as safer, offer good value for money and are easier to reach\u201d, while trips continue to spread more evenly across the year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEuropean tourism has continued to show resilience in Q2 2026, despite a more uncertain global environment,\u201d said Miguel Sanz, President of the ETC. \u201cTravel remains a priority for consumers, but the way people travel is changing. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAffordability, safety, proximity and value for money are becoming increasingly important in destination choice. For European destinations, the priority will be to remain competitive while supporting more balanced visitor flows across regions and seasons.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Greece, Italy and Malta lead the way<\/h3>\n<p>According to the ETC data, almost 80% of destinations recorded growth and around one in five achieved double-digit increases in visitor arrivals. <\/p>\n<p>Supported by strong connectivity and efforts to spread demand beyond peak seasons and traditional hotspots, the largest increases in arrivals during the first months of 2026 were recorded by Greece (+38.3%), Italy (+21.1%) and Malta (+16%),.<\/p>\n<p>Outperforming other European subregions, arrivals in Northern Europe were up 10% and overnight stays up 8.4%. Central and Eastern Europe also recorded growth, with arrivals increasing by 5.2% and nights rising by 6.9%, reflecting continued interest in destinations offering new experiences and better value for money. <\/p>\n<p>Southern and Mediterranean Europe remained solid overall, recording the largest growth in absolute terms, with broad-based increases in Malta, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.<\/p>\n<h3>Challenging start to the year<\/h3>\n<p>The overall outlook may remain positive, said the ETC, but some destinations have \u201cfaced a more challenging start to the year\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>Cyprus recorded a 17.9% decline in arrivals, partly due to Easter timing effects and weaker traveller sentiment linked to perceived proximity to the conflict in the Middle East. <\/p>\n<p>T\u00fcrkiye also saw arrivals fall by 2.1%, reflecting softer demand from both European and long-haul visitors amid the regional conflict.<\/p>\n<h3>Greece a standout for travel spending<\/h3>\n<p>In most destinations, travel spending outpaced arrivals, with the ETC data suggesting higher spend per visitor than a year earlier. Greece stood out as one of Europe\u2019s strongest performers, with spending up 64.3% and arrivals up 38.3%, pointing to significantly higher spend per trip.<\/p>\n<p>Performance varied across destinations. In Italy, arrivals rose by 21.1%, while travel spending increased by 4.3%, reflecting softer average spend per visitor despite volume growth. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, T\u00fcrkiye and Cyprus were among the few destinations where both arrivals and travel spend fell, \u201clikely reflecting weaker traveller sentiment linked to the Middle East conflict\u201d, said the ETC.<\/p>\n<h3>Key trends: Value, proximity, and shoulder-season trips<\/h3>\n<p>Despite continued economic uncertainty, leisure travel is expected to remain a priority during summer and beyond. <\/p>\n<p>In key European source markets, leisure travel spending is forecast to remain steady at 13% of total consumer spending in 2026, well above the global average of 8.5%. The share in key non-European source markets is also set to increase slightly, from 7.5% in 2025 to 7.7%.<\/p>\n<p>Travellers are becoming \u201cmore price-sensitive\u201d, said the ETC. In its latest travel industry monitor survey, 48% of European respondents identified \u201caffordability and value for money\u201d as a key opportunity for Europe in Q2, up from 32% in Q1. <\/p>\n<p>This points to a \u201cmore competitive summer season\u201d, said the ETC, with \u201cdestinations that align closely with travellers\u2019 budgets and preferences better placed to attract demand\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>European travellers are expected to favour nearby destinations that are \u201ceasier to reach, more familiar and offer greater flexibility\u201d. Southern and Mediterranean Europe is well-positioned to capture this demand, with interest in the region between June and November rising to 61%. <\/p>\n<p>Shoulder months are also gaining importance, as travellers respond to concerns around extreme weather events and overcrowding, with September bookings rising strongly across Europe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 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id=\"abe-2904005-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2904005\" data-cid=\"9808715\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904005-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/43\/60\/37\/480x270_cmsv2_349d7992-94ec-59ae-a3b6-309d2e0ed43f-9436037.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People enjoy the sea in Avlaki beach about 42 kilometres east of Athens\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Greece tourism revenue and arrivals surge in early 2026<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li 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class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Euronews Travel Channel \u2013 Travel News, Guides, Magazines &amp; Inspiration | 24\/7<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908619-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2908619\" data-cid=\"9832196\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908619-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/21\/96\/320x180_cmsv2_4ee0a71c-a947-5e3e-8eb9-e46b189cd0dd-9832196.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"One of Spain&apos;s earliest cinemas has been turned into Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes San Sebasti\u00e1n\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Former 1910s cinema in San Sebasti\u00e1n transformed into stunning hotel<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908286-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2908286\" data-cid=\"9830199\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908286-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/01\/99\/320x180_cmsv2_f24d332d-a7cc-56fc-8eb5-5e2cf37ae02f-9830199.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"New flight routes are on the horizon during the cooler months\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The new European flight routes launching this autumn and winter<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908571-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2908571\" data-cid=\"9831892\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2908571-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/18\/92\/320x180_cmsv2_887e75b8-7332-5e8a-b05a-7005e797adfc-9831892.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Castiglion del Bosco, a Rosewood Hotel was just named the best in Europe by Travel + Leisure \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><span class=\"c-icon-gallery the-media-object__icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/images\/vector\/camera.svg\" width=\"21\" height=\"21\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    This Tuscan hotel on a 5,000-acre estate was named the best in Europe<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907946-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2907946\" data-cid=\"9828580\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Maldives of the Middle East&#8217;: Saudi&#8217;s Red Sea project takes shape<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907970-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2907970\" data-cid=\"9828685\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    UK\u2019s first live-action historical show park to open in July<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908310-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2908310\" data-cid=\"9830370\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Newly released map reveals untouched nature spots in Sweden<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908305-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2908305\" data-cid=\"9830353\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    A new literary\u2011inspired hotel has opened in northern Iceland<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2887587-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2887587\" data-cid=\"9728582\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ankara designated 2026 tourism capital of the Turkic world<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">In partnership with <strong>GoT\u00fcrkiye<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">International visitor numbers to Europe have increased by 5% so far in 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, despite turbulence across the tourism sector caused by rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty.\u00a0According to the latest trends and prospects quarterly report from the European Travel Commission (ETC), European tourism continued to perform strongly in the second quarter of the year with overnight stays increasing by 4.8%.\u00a0The stable performance comes despite \u201cweaker consumer confidence, rising affordability pressures and disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East\u201d, said the ETC, which affected aviation flows between Europe and certain mid-haul and long-haul markets.While consumers are still planning to travel, the report found that \u201cchoices are becoming more selective\u201d. Travellers are \u201cincreasingly looking for destinations that are perceived as safer, offer good value for money and are easier to reach\u201d, while trips continue to spread more evenly across the year.\u201cEuropean tourism has continued to show resilience in Q2 2026, despite a more uncertain global environment,\u201d said Miguel Sanz, President of the ETC. \u201cTravel remains a priority for consumers, but the way people travel is changing.\u00a0\u201cAffordability, safety, proximity and value for money are becoming increasingly important in destination choice. For European destinations, the priority will be to remain competitive while supporting more balanced visitor flows across regions and seasons.\u201dGreece, Italy and Malta lead the way\u00a0According to the ETC data, almost 80% of destinations recorded growth and around one in five achieved double-digit increases in visitor arrivals.\u00a0Supported by strong connectivity and efforts to spread demand beyond peak seasons and traditional hotspots, the largest increases in arrivals during the first months of 2026 were recorded by Greece (+38.3%), Italy (+21.1%) and Malta (+16%),.Outperforming other European subregions, arrivals in Northern Europe were up 10% and overnight stays up 8.4%. Central and Eastern Europe also recorded growth, with arrivals increasing by 5.2% and nights rising by 6.9%, reflecting continued interest in destinations offering new experiences and better value for money.\u00a0Southern and Mediterranean Europe remained solid overall, recording the largest growth in absolute terms, with broad-based increases in Malta, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.Challenging start to the yearThe overall outlook may remain positive, said the ETC, but some destinations have \u201cfaced a more challenging start to the year\u201d.\u00a0Cyprus recorded a 17.9% decline in arrivals, partly due to Easter timing effects and weaker traveller sentiment linked to perceived proximity to the conflict in the Middle East.T\u00fcrkiye also saw arrivals fall by 2.1%, reflecting softer demand from both European and long-haul visitors amid the regional conflict.Greece a standout for travel spendingIn most destinations, travel spending outpaced arrivals, with the ETC data suggesting higher spend per visitor than a year earlier. Greece stood out as one of Europe\u2019s strongest performers, with spending up 64.3% and arrivals up 38.3%, pointing to significantly higher spend per trip.Performance varied across destinations. In Italy, arrivals rose by 21.1%, while travel spending increased by 4.3%, reflecting softer average spend per visitor despite volume growth.\u00a0Meanwhile, T\u00fcrkiye and Cyprus were among the few destinations where both arrivals and travel spend fell, \u201clikely reflecting weaker traveller sentiment linked to the Middle East conflict\u201d, said the ETC.Key trends: Value, proximity, and shoulder-season tripsDespite continued economic uncertainty, leisure travel is expected to remain a priority during summer and beyond.\u00a0In key European source markets, leisure travel spending is forecast to remain steady at 13% of total consumer spending in 2026, well above the global average of 8.5%. The share in key non-European source markets is also set to increase slightly, from 7.5% in 2025 to 7.7%.Travellers are becoming \u201cmore price-sensitive\u201d, said the ETC. In its latest travel industry monitor survey, 48% of European respondents identified \u201caffordability and value for money\u201d as a key opportunity for Europe in Q2, up from 32% in Q1.\u00a0This points to a \u201cmore competitive summer season\u201d, said the ETC, with \u201cdestinations that align closely with travellers\u2019 budgets and preferences better placed to attract demand\u201d.European travellers are expected to favour nearby destinations that are \u201ceasier to reach, more familiar and offer greater flexibility\u201d.\u00a0Southern and Mediterranean Europe is well-positioned to capture this demand, with interest in the region between June and November rising to 61%.\u00a0Shoulder months are also gaining importance, as travellers respond to concerns around extreme weather events and overcrowding, with September bookings rising strongly across Europe.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2026\/07\/10\/travel-to-europe-continues-to-grow-in-2026-with-greece-italy-and-malta-leading-the-way&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/35\/33\/1200x675_cmsv2_e258767b-3c99-552e-af20-37c151844ea6-9833533.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Hungary&#8217;s bid to join European Prosecutor&#8217;s Office accepted Health news Italy&#8217;s Calabria defies US pressure to drop its Cuban doctors Europe Today French economy minister on Spain&#8217;s debt proposal: &#8216;It&#8217;s interesting&#8217; Europe News 17-year-old girl dies during France World Cup celebrations Europe News Hungary&#8217;s bid to join European Prosecutor&#8217;s Office [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2036542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2036542"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036542\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2036542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2036542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2036542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}