Holidaymakers from the UK and Europe are shifting their summer travel plans away from the eastern Mediterranean due to the US-Israel war on Iran, with a surge in demand for destinations in the Caribbean and western Mediterranean, travel companies have reported.
Tui, Europe’s largest holiday operator, noted a sharp rise in bookings for Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Cape Verde, as customers opt for “familiar, easy-to-reach locations”. Neil Swanson, a Tui director, said cancellations in affected areas are outweighed by customers amending their plans.
Jonathon Woodall-Johnston of Hays Travel added that demand is particularly strong for Italy, Malta, and Croatia. Meanwhile, interest in the Caribbean is “off the charts”, according to Mark Duguid of Kuoni, with flight prices soaring by up to £1,000 per person for economy seats to destinations like the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
The conflict has caused significant disruption, with British Airways cancelling its Abu Dhabi route and Wizz Air reallocating half its Middle East capacity to European destinations. Shares in travel companies such as On the Beach, easyJet, and Jet2 have fallen, while Loveholidays reportedly plans to delay its flotation.
The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates the Middle East’s tourism sector is losing $600m (£448m) a day in visitor spending, with international visitor spending projected to fall from $207bn this year.
