The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported on Wednesday that the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector is losing at least $600 million per day due to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The council attributed the losses to disrupted air travel, declining tourist confidence, and broken regional connectivity, which have sharply reduced demand across the region.

According to the WTTC statement, the Middle East accounts for 5 percent of global tourism and 14 percent of international transit traffic. Major airports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain typically handle around 526,000 passengers daily, but have faced nearly two weeks of paralysis and disorder. This disruption has also affected global air travel, driving up ticket prices on many routes.

The council noted that the region had projected $207 billion in revenue from international tourists in 2026. It warned that any interruption in travel flows can quickly and severely impact the tourism ecosystem.