Southeast Asia Shifts to Short‑Haul Tourism
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- IBC Tours & Travel launched 32 new Southeast Asian travel packages in March after Middle‑East bookings collapsed following US‑Israel strikes on Iran.
- Mohammad Rizal, managing director of IBC Tours & Travel, said about 80 % of the company's business was hit in early March and the new packages avoid transiting through the Middle East.
- Thailand saw a 30‑50 % drop in Middle‑East arrivals since the war began, and early‑March data show sharp declines from Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and Israel.
- Malaysia Inbound Tourism Association reported that Middle‑East bookings are currently zero and travelers are postponing trips to year‑end, yet overall tourist arrivals in March remained “very positive”.
- Short‑haul travellers (up to three‑hour flights) are now the focus of regional tourism strategies as long‑haul routes are disrupted by airspace closures, fuel shortages and higher costs.
Why it matters: Short‑haul tour operators and regional airlines gain as 80 % of Middle‑East travel revenue evaporates, while long‑haul carriers and hotels lose bookings; ministries must redirect marketing to intra‑Asian markets, unlocking tens of millions in new spend.
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