The impact of bombs can sometimes have unexpected consequences. As the summer high season approaches, the AD’OCC agency has published the results of a flash survey conducted from April 24 to 29, in which over 2000 regional tourism professionals participated. The purpose of the survey was to measure the impact of international tensions on tourism activity. The findings are clear: current international tensions are slowing down the sector’s momentum and creating an atmosphere of uncertainty for the future.
According to the survey results, 59% of tourism professionals report observing an impact of international tensions on their activities, with 98% describing it as negative. All sectors are affected, with particularly high levels of impact in restaurants (75%) and retail and services (66%).
A clientele that “arbitrates its expenses”
In contrast to a sudden crisis resulting in a wave of cancellations, professionals mainly note a slowdown in reservation pace. However, 31% believe it is still too early to determine, lacking visibility on the upcoming weeks.
Key observations on the ground include a decrease in demand and reservations, a quieter spring (May-June) than anticipated, reduced foot traffic, slower reservation pace, and uncertainty about the summer season. In this context, customer behaviors are changing: clients are booking later, hesitating more, and carefully managing their expenses.
A climate of general wait-and-see
Looking ahead, professionals display significant caution: 66% consider reservations for the coming months to be “discouraging or not encouraging,” both for May holidays and the July-August period. The impact of international tensions is felt across all tourism sectors, affecting coastal areas, mountains, urban environments, and rural areas equally (between 58% and 61%).
These survey results do not indicate a sharp decline in tourism activity but rather a general atmosphere of caution. The main signal is a slowdown in decision-making, a rise in last-minute bookings, and a lack of visibility for professionals. The coming weeks will be crucial to confirm or counter the observed trends and measure their impact on the summer season.
Cancellation related to fuel prices:
The situation of cancellations due to rising fuel prices amid conflicts in the Middle East has raised concerns. Some airlines have used the fuel price increase as an “extraordinary circumstance” to justify flight cancellations, exempting them from compensating passengers under EU Regulation 261/2004.
However, the European Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, clarifies that a physical fuel shortage is considered an extraordinary circumstance, excusing airlines from compensation obligations, but a fuel price increase is not. Passengers are entitled to compensation if their flights are canceled due to fuel price fluctuations.
The leading passenger rights platform, Flightright, emphasizes the importance of preserving passenger rights in case of flight disruptions, delays, or cancellation. They have secured over 700 million euros in compensation for passengers and assisted more than 17 million consumers with their digital services.
