Balkan countries, including Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia, have become more attractive destinations for travelers this summer, while travel to Eastern European countries such as Turkey, Romania, and Hungary has decreased.
Impact of the Middle East Crisis on Travel
According to the latest Eurocontrol statistics, Europe faced a record 35,959 daily flights in the summer of 2026, but the distribution of these flights has been affected by the Middle East crisis. This data shows that regional tensions have led to a decrease in travel to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Turkey, while travel to Balkan countries and southwestern European destinations has increased.
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Global Changes in Travel Habits
In addition to Europe, travel habits have changed globally. Travel to the Middle East has sharply decreased, and Jordan and Lebanon, which previously showed signs of recovery in their tourism industries, are facing a decline in visitor numbers. Although the UK Foreign Office has lifted its advisories for travel to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Jordan, the number of travelers remains below pre-war levels.
This week, British Airways announced that it will not operate the London to Abu Dhabi route for the winter 2026/27 season, and the launch of flights to Dubai will also be delayed.
Looking outside of Europe, travel conditions to Asia have also been affected. Many Asian destinations that rely on Gulf airlines have experienced a sharp decline in passenger numbers. For example, the travel company Selective Asia reported that bookings in April and May decreased by 50 to 60 percent.
In contrast, Indian Ocean destinations like the Maldives and Sri Lanka also faced a drop in passenger numbers at the beginning of the war, but have gradually seen a return of travelers following the lifting of advisories.
Finally, Brazil and Peru are recognized as new destinations for British tourists. Brazil attracted 121,990 British tourists between January and July 2026, an increase of 11.61 percent compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Peru also experienced a 12 percent growth with 43,918 tourists from the UK during the same period.
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Source: independent.co.uk
