British and European holidaymakers are shifting their summer travel plans away from the eastern Mediterranean to destinations in the west and the Caribbean, as the US-Israel war on Iran disrupts the region. Travel companies report increased bookings for Spain, Italy, Malta, Croatia, and the Caribbean, while Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece see cancellations.
Tui, Europe’s largest holiday operator, said demand has risen sharply for Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Cape Verde. Neil Swanson, a Tui director, noted that customers are opting for “familiar, easy‑to‑reach locations” and that cancellations in affected areas are outweighed by amendments. Hays Travel’s Jonathon Woodall-Johnston added that Italy, Malta, and Croatia are seeing strong demand.
Long-haul travel to the Caribbean is also booming. Swanson highlighted “particularly strong demand” for direct flights to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Mark Duguid of Kuoni said interest in the Caribbean is “off the charts,” with flight prices surging—economy seats have risen by £1,000 per person in some cases. Google data shows round-trip flights from London to Antigua and Barbuda for late March have increased 27% to £917 in a week.
The conflict is taking a toll on the travel industry. On the Beach suspended its annual profit guidance after a “significant slowdown” in bookings to Turkey, Cyprus, and Egypt. Shares in easyJet and Jet2 have fallen 16% and 10%, respectively. Loveholidays is reportedly delaying its London Stock Exchange flotation. The Middle East’s tourism sector is losing $600m (£448m) a day in visitor spending, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.
British Airways has cancelled its seasonal Abu Dhabi route from Heathrow, and Wizz Air is reallocating about half its Middle East capacity to European destinations. The Foreign Office advises against travel to the UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
