The conflict in the Middle East has directly affected the travel market from Albania. Reservations for Dubai, one of the most popular destinations for Albanians, have been suspended, while travel agencies report delays and cancellations of flights.

Bookings are currently frozen and agencies are dealing with managing the situation.

Aurela Baholli from a travel agency explains that the closure of Dubai has a chain effect on the travel industry, as the city is used both as a holiday destination and as a transit point to the Middle East and Asia. At the moment, flights are very limited and agencies are using alternative routes to return clients.

During the three months of March–April–May, around 1,000 bookings had been made, but some of them have already been cancelled. In total, more than 20,000 trips to the Middle East have been cancelled since the start of the conflict.

“Flights to and from Dubai are suspended. For clients who have already traveled, airlines are covering additional costs through refunds or rescheduling. The uncertainty about the duration of the attacks has caused hesitation, and Dubai is no longer at the top of the list of holiday destinations,” said Aurela Baholli.

The situation has forced many Albanians to reconsider their vacation destinations, choosing safer locations instead.