Tourism on hold as Middle East conflict sends travellers scrambling

Cancelled flights, postponed trips, and anxious travellers, the Middle East’s tourism sector, which had been enjoying a post-pandemic boom, is now in limbo as regional conflict spreads uncertainty across the globe.

Source: X{@VietNewsGateway}

Travel plans derailed

According to IOL,in Jordan, tour guides are feeling the immediate impact. Nazih Rawashdeh, based near Irbid in northern Jordan, described the sudden drop-off in visitors. “My last group of tourists left three days ago, and all the other groups planned for March have been cancelled. This is the start of the high season here. It’s catastrophic. And yet there’s no problem in Jordan. It’s perfectly safe,” he told AFP.

Across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, tour operators are scrambling to manage travellers stranded in the region or facing postponed journeys. Alain Capestan, president of French tour operator Comptoir des Voyages, explained that “the priority is getting those already there back home.”

Air travel disruptions have compounded the problem. The Gulf hosts some of the world’s busiest aviation hubs — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha — meaning even tourists whose destinations lie outside conflict zones are affected. German operators Alltours, Dertour, and Schauinsland-Reisen have stepped in, covering additional accommodation costs for stranded clients while suspending tours to the UAE and Oman until at least March 7.

Meanwhile, the British travel association ABTA confirmed that agencies would follow Foreign Office advice, refraining from sending tourists to the region until safety warnings are lifted. Customers affected by cancellations are entitled to rebookings or refunds.

Economic fallout

Tourism in the Middle East had been on a strong recovery path. In 2025, around 100 million international visitors travelled to the region — nearly seven percent of global tourist traffic. That represented a 39 percent increase compared to the pre-pandemic era.

European travellers accounted for the largest share, followed by visitors from South Asia, the Americas, and neighbouring Middle Eastern countries. For instance, Dubai’s Ministry of Tourism and Economy reported that regional markets made up 26 percent of visitors last year alone.

Analysts warn that the ongoing conflict could hit the sector harder than previous shocks. Oxford Economics forecasts inbound arrivals could drop by 11–27 percent in 2026, representing 23–38 million fewer tourists and a potential loss of $34–56 billion in tourist spending.

“This conflict comes at a critical moment for a sector that has grown in importance for GDP and employment,” said Helen McDermott, Director of Global Forecasting at Oxford Economics.

For local operators, the sudden pause is a harsh blow. “For the past six months, people working in tourism here had hope. And now there’s a war. This is going to be terrible for the economy,” Rawashdeh said.

Industry resilience

Despite the grim outlook, some remain cautiously optimistic. Ibrahim Mohamed, marketing director of Middle East Travel Alliance, notes that travel demand tends to rebound quickly once stability returns. “We’ve noticed a slowdown in new bookings, but the Middle East has always been an incredibly resilient market. People will return as soon as travellers feel confident,” he said.

Tourists and locals alike are waiting for calm to return. For now, though, travel plans are on hold, leaving empty hotels, quiet streets in once-bustling tourist hubs, and an industry hoping the next chapter sees its usual vibrancy restored.

{Source: IOL}

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