Tourism braces for impact of Mideast war

Conflict disrupts flights, shifts demand

- NARUMON KASEMSUK

Tourists stroll along a busy pavement lined with restaurants and shops in Krabi. The government is urged to prepare for a possible surge of travellers seeking a safe haven in Thailand.MOLPASORN SHOOWONG

Thai tourism should brace for an influx of foreigners seeking a safe haven amid growing geopolitical conflict, similar to the surge experienced during the Russia-Ukraine War a few years ago, when Russian arrivals rose to 1.74 million in 2024, significantly impacting property markets in tourism cities.

Yuthasak Supasorn, chairman of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, said the current conflict in the Middle East has reminded the tourism industry of the Russia-Ukraine war, where the short-term impact first falls on fuel prices and consequently affects international airfares, reducing long-haul markets.

He said airlines operating between Europe and Asia saw fuel consumption rise by an average of 14.8%, while flights between North America and Asia recorded a 9.8% increase due to the closure of Russian airspace and subsequent rerouting. The situation was exacerbated by jet fuel prices peaking at US$150 per barrel in 2022.

He said while the war in Eastern Europe has affected the long-term cost structure of aviation, the conflict in the Middle East has instead created immediate disruptions to regional flight schedules.

The air strikes have led to periodic emergency airspace closures in several Middle Eastern countries.