The Middle East has long held appeal and intrigue for British holidaymakers. The relative proximity to the UK, rich cultural offerings, and well developed tourist infrastructure have allowed countries including Egypt and Jordan – or further afield in the UAE, Bahrain and Oman – to carve out a status as holiday hotspots.
Yet when upheaval occurs, internally or across borders, the impact on tourism can be significant.
The recent escalation of conflict between Israel and Iran as well as the continuing Israeli military presence in Gaza has created some anxiety among British travellers who have booked or are considering booking holidays to the region.
Concerns about the proximity of strikes in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel, particularly in relation to neighbours Jordan and Egypt, has raised questions about safety. Plus, there’s the understandable unease of kicking back and basking in the sunshine, while tragedy occurs just miles away.
Following Israeli strikes on Lebanon and retaliation from Iran at the end of September, airlines including Wizz and British Airways temporarily suspended flights to Jordan, and some tour operators appeared to be getting jumpy, going as far as to cancel holidays – US operator Colette has scrapped its itineraries that feature Jordan until through October 31.
Most UK tour companies continued to operate as usual, with no reason to suspend trips, but many have noted a drop in bookings in the past year.
Intrepid Travel recorded a dip in travel to the Middle East immediately after 7 October 2023 – particularly to Jordan and, to a lesser extent, Egypt – and G Adventures has also reduced booking figures for Jordan. The Jordan Tourist Board reported that travellers from the UK decreased by 23.7 per cent, with 27,451 visitors by the end of September 2024, compared to 35,989 during the same period in 2023.
Philip Breckner of Discover Egypt shared a similar story, with a noticeable slump in bookings to Egypt following the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 2023 and bombing of Gaza.
It is a relatively familiar pattern. This is a region that has in the past grappled with conflict, terrorist attacks, internal political tensions And when instability occurs, tourists get spooked.
One of the most devastating examples was in 1997, when 62 people, mostly foreign tourists, were violently killed in…
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