The Middle East conflict not only drives up global fuel prices but also introduces uncertainty and security concerns for international travel. However, apart from a decline in trips to Europe that involve transit through high-risk areas like Dubai, there has actually been an increase in people’s willingness to visit Asian countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan.
Shift to China, Thailand, and Indonesia
Resident Ye : “I actually wanted to travel to European countries. But now, with the war in the transit areas, it’s not convenient to go there. So, I’m planning to visit Malaysia, or Bangkok, Thailand, instead. It’s more economical and cost-effective.”
Resident Haida : “I planned to go to Turkey at the end of this year. But I’ll wait and see how the situation develops before making a decision. If I don’t travel that far, I’m considering visiting Indonesia instead.”
Resident Ji : “If the war leads to inflation and a significant increase in the cost of living, I might not travel abroad at all.”
Travel agency manager noted that due to the unstable situation, the company’s tours to the Middle East or Europe in March and April have been significantly delayed.
“I launched over 20 tour groups to Europe, but only 2 of them proceeded as planned, which is just 10%, while the remaining 90% were postponed. The postponed groups were originally scheduled to fly with Emirates, requiring a transit in Dubai. Only the groups booked on direct Malaysia Airlines flights managed to reach their destinations successfully.”
“The number of tour groups to Malaysia and Japan, on the other hand, has actually increased. This might be because many who initially planned to travel to Europe have changed their minds and decided to visit Asian countries instead.”
Potential Impact Unavoidable
Although the war has led to economic pressure on the public, most travel agencies have not yet seen a significant impact on their business. However, industry players worry that if the conflict continues and inflation rises, they may not be able to avoid the repercussions.
