600 million dollars a day - this is how much countries in the Middle East are losing due to the collapse of tourism and travel. How hard is the blow to the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and other Gulf countries?
The US-Israeli war against Iran is dealing a heavy blow to the economy. The countries in the Middle East that the regime in Tehran has attacked are particularly affected.
Losses of hundreds of millions every day
According to data from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the region is losing about 600 million dollars every day due to the decline in travel as a result of the war. Before the conflict began, WTTC predicted that international visitor arrivals would reach $207 billion this year.
Air travel has been hit the hardest. An average of 526,000 passengers passed through the international airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain each day. Since the war began nearly two weeks ago, these airports have been either closed or operating at reduced capacity. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have been the hardest hit.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have become increasingly popular tourist destinations in recent years. With the threat of missile and drone attacks from Iran, hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants there are also losing millions every day. WTTC emphasizes that it is currently not possible to calculate and predict the exact amount of lost revenue for the countries affected by the war in Iran and its consequences.
Will the Gulf States be able to save their image?
However, for the Gulf States, the problem is not only the real financial losses, but also the damage to their image. Large cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha have long been considered safe destinations. After the attacks on airports, hotels and densely populated areas, it may take time for them to regain this status. At the same time, a number of banks and financial institutions have closed their doors due to threats from Iran. Many digital nomads have also evacuated.
Tourist company TUI is also reporting a collapse in organized trips and transfers through transport hubs such as Dubai and Doha.
Whether the conflict will damage the image of the destinations in question in the long term depends primarily on its duration, says tourism expert Jürgen Schmude. "The longer it goes on, the greater the consequences." If the conflict in the Middle East ends quickly, the consequences for tourism could be largely forgotten in six months.