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Travellers are canceling or postponing planned vacations to the Middle East and North Africa due to fears of the Israel crisis worsening, and as touring companies have also altered itineraries and canceled flights.
Leisure travel demand drops
Leisure travel demand to the region was hit after the Israel-Palestine crisis broke out on October 7.
Major airlines extended temporary halts on flights into Israel through the end of the year while cruise operators are shifting itineraries to avoid neighboring countries as well. Travel operators say the crisis is affecting demand for travel to nearby nations including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey.
“We are seeing clients cancel cruises like an Egypt Nile river cruise as far out as December 2024 due to concerns with the crisis,” said Todd Elliott, CEO of Orlando, Florida-based Cruise Vacation Outlet, a travel agency.
Cruise operator Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings told investors on Wednesday that it was seeing a…