The largest German tour operator, TUI, has detected changes in customer booking patterns following the outbreak of war in the Gulf region. A spokesperson noted that this week there were higher bookings for two very different destinations – Japan and Hawaii – but emphasized that it is too early to draw broader conclusions for the rest of the year.
The company also mentioned that package tours to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were already slowing by the end of March, as it is a winter destination. “We see guests who were unable to travel in March shifting their Dubai holiday to the fall, when temperatures in the Middle East become more comfortable” the spokesperson explained.
With the expectation of a near‑immediate end to the Iran war, the German travel sector anticipates a quick return of tourists to the Gulf region. Albin Loidl, president of the German Travel Association, stated: “Past crises demonstrate that tourism is a very resilient industry-once stability returns, so does the urge to travel”. He said this experience is applicable to the Gulf region as well.
Loidl does not see the war affecting German summer travel preferences. He added that for the summer of 2026, classic Mediterranean destinations-Turkey, Spain, and Greece-will remain at the top of the wish list.
