{"id":6345,"date":"2026-04-23T07:08:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T03:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fajr.news\/?p=6345"},"modified":"2026-04-23T07:08:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T03:38:24","slug":"lastminute-com-middle-east-conflict-reshapes-travel-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fajr.news\/?p=6345&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Lastminute.com: Middle East Conflict Reshapes Travel Destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lastminute.com Reports Travel Destination ‘Rebalancing’ Amidst Middle East Conflict<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
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London, UK<\/strong> \u2013 Online travel giant Lastminute.com has observed a significant “rebalancing” of popular holiday destinations, a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Despite the geopolitical shifts, the desire to travel among holidaymakers remains robust, according to the company’s latest trends report.<\/p>\n

The report highlights how the evolving situation in the Middle East is actively reshaping European destination choices. Travellers are increasingly gravitating towards familiar and trusted European favourites. British holidaymakers, for instance, have shown a strong preference for major European cities such as Rome, Amsterdam, and Paris. Spain continues to be a dominant force for sunshine seekers, with five Spanish destinations featuring in the top 10 fastest-growing locations, led notably by Majorca, which saw a 16% year-on-year increase.<\/p>\n

Travel Desire Unchanged, Booking Habits Evolve<\/h2>\n

Alessandro Petazzi, Chief Executive of Lastminute.com, emphasized that the fundamental desire to travel has not diminished. “We’ve seen more a rebalancing of destinations and maybe a desire to wait a bit longer before booking,” Petazzi told Travel Weekly. He noted that Lastminute.com’s business model, where nearly seven out of ten bookings occur within 30 days of departure, positions them well for this trend. “That’s a good brand to have when people say ‘I am going to wait a bit longer’,” he added, confirming that overall booking volumes have not dropped, but rather shifted.<\/p>\n

Emerging Trends: Shoulder Seasons and Value Travel<\/h2>\n

Looking ahead to 2025 and 2026, Lastminute.com’s “Travel Horizons 2026” report, compiled from customer bookings across the UK, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain, reveals several key trends:<\/p>\n

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  • Growth in Shoulder Seasons:<\/strong> There’s a continued surge in sales for shoulder seasons (September, October, November), which now account for a quarter of all departures. September grew 7%, October 12%, and November a significant 23% year-on-year. Early 2026 also shows strong growth, with January departures up 17% and February up 6%. Petazzi attributes this to many beach destinations remaining warm in autumn and the expansion of city break options like Gdansk, Krakow, and Bucharest, fueled by new airline routes.<\/li>\n
  • Low-Cost Flights, Luxury Stays:<\/strong> An increasing number of travellers are optimizing their budgets by pairing low-cost flights with more luxurious accommodations. The report indicates that in 2025, 72% of four-star-plus hotel bookings were made in conjunction with low-cost carriers, a trend solidifying into 2026. “We have seen people really trying to save money on the flight\u2026especially within Europe, as they perceive it as kind of a commodity,” Petazzi explained. “People are saying, ‘If I can save 50 bucks on the flight, I can maybe get a room upgrade, or I can book a four-star hotel rather than a three-star one’.”<\/li>\n
  • Event-Driven Travel:<\/strong> More trips are being planned around major events, such as concerts and football finals, indicating a shift towards experiential travel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This strategic approach to travel, combining cost-saving on flights with enhanced hotel experiences and flexible timing, reflects a resilient and adaptable travel market.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n