March 2026 confirms a significant decline in tourist demand for Greece, with festive sales recording a 27.6% drop in bookings from the French market, according to data from the Orchestra/L’Écho barometer. The decline in interest from French tourists, in the shadow of geopolitical developments in the Middle East, appears to play a decisive role in the retreat. However, Albania is the champion in terms of booking growth, with an increase of almost 222%.
Travel agency sales plummeted in March 2026. Specifically, during the first ten days of March, bookings had decreased by 17.6%. In February, which coincided with the start of the war in the Middle East, activity decreased by just (-0.8%).
In March, Spain, mainland France, and Tunisia are the top three. The first two destinations remain almost stable, while Tunisia is sinking by 25.7%. Greece recorded an even greater decline (-27.6%), as did Portugal (-34.4%). As for the United States, they have never shown such a large decrease, exceeding 50%.
Despite the general expectation, some destinations and remote islands, which provide a sense of security, stand out with positive results. This is evident in the increases in the Dominican Republic, Albania, Canada, Japan, and the French Antilles.
Albania recorded the largest increase (+222%, reaching 11th place worldwide), also due to the reduction in the average cost per booking. Due to the weak demand caused by geopolitical uncertainty, airlines, travel agents, hoteliers and digital platforms are offering promotions to boost bookings.
Overall, the situation shows that even in difficult conditions, there are opportunities for tourism development.
