Tourists reroute to Spain, Portugal amid Mideast conflict concerns

MADRID: Spain and Portugal are witnessing a sharp rise in summer travel demand as global tourists increasingly divert plans away from conflict-affected destinations in and around the Middle East, according to industry data.

Summer flight bookings to Spain, including transit routes, surged 32 per cent year-on-year as of April 2, while hotel searches climbed 28 per cent, data from digital travel marketing platform Sojern showed. Portugal also recorded strong growth, with flight bookings up 21 per cent and hotel searches rising 16 per cent.

Travel analytics firm Mabrian reported a noticeable pullback from Middle Eastern destinations last month, alongside increased demand for the southern Mediterranean. Spain, already among the world’s most visited countries, emerged as a key beneficiary of the shift.

In contrast, parts of the eastern Mediterranean have seen cancellations rise, highlighting wider disruption linked to regional tensions. Industry observers noted that uncertainty surrounding conflict zones is reshaping seasonal travel patterns.

Spain’s tourism group Exceltur has slightly upgraded its outlook, projecting 2.5 per cent growth in tourism activity this year, up from 2.4 per cent. The sector is expected to reach €227 billion, supported in part by diverted demand.

Officials said the shift reflects a “safe-haven effect,” with travellers prioritising destinations perceived as stable. Airlines have also responded by increasing capacity, adding nearly 6 per cent more seats compared with last year, according to Spain’s tourism agency Turespana.

However, industry leaders warned that risks remain, including higher fuel costs and possible disruptions at key transit hubs. Some analysts cautioned that broader geopolitical instability could still affect long-term travel demand despite current gains.