Eastern Mediterranean Bookings Rebound by a Third as Price Cuts Ease Iran Conflict Fears
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Jun 21
Eastern Mediterranean Bookings Rebound by a Third as Price Cuts Ease Iran Conflict Fears
2 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Jun 21
Summary
Hotel searches for Turkey and Egypt jumped about a third in the second week of June from the first, while Cyprus rose 29%, signaling a sharp rebound in eastern Mediterranean holiday demand.
Hotels helped drive the recovery with steep discounts, and travelers increasingly judged that Cyprus, Turkey and north Africa were far from the Gulf conflict despite the initial shock after US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Cyprus hotel group Muskita said it was down 20% for the summer in March but has since clawed back lost ground, with business now back to normal even if 2026 is only likely to match 2025.
EasyJet and Wizz Air said Egypt, Turkey and Cyprus recovered within weeks, while Trivago flagged Morocco and Egypt as standout performers with searches 22% above a year earlier.
The rebound has also been supported by Europeans choosing closer-to-home trips over Gulf routes, a shift reinforced after the UK lifted travel guidance that had constrained bookings through Gulf airports.