S-E Asia tourism takes hit from Middle East crisis, but intra-regional travel could spell hope

[SINGAPORE] Cancelled flights, fuel shortages, higher prices for ferry tickets – the fallout from the US-Iran-Israel conflict has hit South-east Asia’s tourism industry in more ways than one, almost a month since the onset of the crisis.

The impact on the region’s travel economy is in the early stages and may only get worse in the coming months, said analysts.

“It could get far more treacherous from here,” noted Gary Bowerman, a travel and tourism analyst. “We’ve seen a lot of flight postponements, tour group cancellations, ferry routes suspended, and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions events being rescheduled.”