British travelers are turning to the Mediterranean as war and ongoing unrest in the Middle East disrupt travel. Spain and Portugal are best-selling destinations, while the Greek islands remain a point of reference. At the same time, interest in Turkey, Cyprus, and Egypt, which initially seemed to be affected by their relatively close distance to the conflict zone, is recovering.
While a conditional, fragile ceasefire is currently in place, the situation in the Middle East seems to have led British holidaymakers to choose reliable, familiar destinations closer to their homeland.
It is too early to assess the full impact of the war on travel, but travel companies have already recorded an increase in interest in European holiday destinations this summer compared to last year.
“Travel continues to demonstrate its resilience. We know that even in times of uncertainty, holidaymakers are not willing to give up their holidays, but they adapt their choices,” says Donat Rétif, CEO of the British online travel agency (OTA) Loveholidays.
Increased demand for Spain
Spain, which is already the most popular destination for British travelers, according to the latest ONS statistics, is expected to see a greater increase in tourism.
The holiday price comparison website TravelSupermarket reported that searches for Majorca increased by 168% in the first three weeks of March compared to the previous three weeks, showing a return of the British travel market to trusted, favourite destinations.
According to OTA On the Beach, there has been an average 36% increase in demand for Costa Blanca, Costa Brava and Costa Dorada over the past month, compared to last year.
Loveholidays’ CEO Donat Rétif said that mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and the Greek Islands have seen an increase in booking share in the last few weeks compared to the same period last year, “as customers turn to their favourite destinations”.
He explained that while European destinations have always been popular, “many have seen an even greater increase in demand in the last few weeks compared to last year.”
Lastminute.com came to similar conclusions from search data, with travelers showing a greater emphasis on safer destinations in Western and Southern Europe, particularly the Canary and Balearic Islands.
Data from Lastminute.com in early April indicate that Britons are delaying their holiday bookings more this year, which they describe as a “wait and see” approach, rather than completely cancelling their plans.
A representative of the OTA claimed that there has not been a decrease in the appetite for travel, but a change in the way people approach it.
“For example, the shift towards Spain and Portugal as preferred destinations. Travelers may spend more time, carefully weigh their options and seek reassurance and value,” he said.
Yvonne Moynihan, managing director of low-cost airline Wizz Air in the UK, said it was too early to draw definitive conclusions, but some changes in booking behaviour over the past few weeks suggested that British travellers were currently favouring destinations closer to home.
He said that there is also a particularly strong demand for Spain, including Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Valencia.
“As we prepare for the busy summer period, it is clear that the British are placing more emphasis on value, familiarity and flexibility when choosing where to travel,” he added.
Travelsupermarket and Lastminute.com have also noticed a huge increase in interest in Sardinia, with the former stating that the Italian island is at the top of the trends with searches up by 236%.
Turkey, Cyprus, and Egypt in the spotlight
Many travel companies have also noted a steady interest in holidays in Turkey, Egypt and Cyprus, countries that the UK Foreign Office has described as safe to visit, but there is a warning of “regional risk”.
According to TravelSupermarket, searches for Bodrum in Turkey have increased by 138%, while Wizz Air reported that there is a continuous interest in Turkey and Egypt.
According to Loveholidays, there is a strong recovery in bookings for Turkey and Cyprus, which remain affordable options for holidaymakers who want value for money.
On the same wavelength, Lastminute.com pointed out that demand for Turkey and Egypt, which were considered risky destinations, is recovering, even if they were not directly affected.
Meanwhile, bookings through On the Beach have increased over the past few weeks, by 5% for Sharm El Sheikh and 17% for Tunisia, compared to last year.
Best sellers and far-off destinations
The increase in interest in Mediterranean holidays does not mean that long-distance destinations have been completely ruled out by British travelers, as destinations popular with the British travel community, such as the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and St. Lucia, are also in the mix.
Meanwhile, Hays Travel reports an increase in customers choosing cruises, as well as distant destinations such as Japan, Australia and South Africa, which continue to have good sales, while TUI stated that the destinations to which it operates direct flights from the UK, such as Phuket and Goa, continue to be in high demand.
