The newly released 2026 biennial benchmark “OECD Tourism Trends and Polices” provides interesting international data and information about good practices on tourism around the world.

More than a detailed analysis of numbers or growth rates per country or worldwide, we want to underline two issues highlighted by the report:

Tourism Statistics.- When we use data as a source of any comparability process it is extremely important that such data has been organized under a consistent framework because only in that way we obtain a reliable outcome. In this sense, the report underlines two methodological references that were applied in the 2026 report:

1. International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008, UN/UNWTO
2. Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008,

Thanks to this methodology, is easier to analyze, compare or break down information according to specific goals.

In fact, this common framework begins defining basic terms as, for instance, what a “visitor” means in terms of tourism data, and from that point it goes further and provides information about some other concepts like; Domestic Tourism, Inbound Tourism, Outbound Tourism and many others.

Once the report explains that data and information has been compiled following a standard procedure, we can assume that we are consulting reliable information and this is a very important starting point.

Tourism Challenges.- The report stands out data that underpins the economic value of tourism among OECD countries that reflects the recovery of the sector even though figures are still below pre-pandemic levels.

Regarding challenges, the top of the list issue lies in uncertainty from geopolitical conflicts (Middle East).

Briefly, the report points out some of the biggest challenges in the industry, and some of them are: 

• Higher Travel Costs (flight fares-affordability)
• Countries with more Travel Regulations
• More balanced, sustainable and resilient tourism

Finally, the report do not forget to explain how technological changes have a very important role in a complex tourism landscape.

Montserrat Hernández partner at Auren Mexico