The first effect of the crisis is a freeze in demand, and the second is that people who have already booked trips begin postponing or canceling them due to fear and uncertainty, waiting for “better times”.
Comments of Vlatko Sulev, president of NAITAM and other tourism professionals, stated in IntelliNews and Ekonomia i Biznis
Although the Western Balkans and North Macedonia are not directly in the conflict zone, we feel the effects very quickly through air traffic disruptions, the psychological impact on travelers and rising costs.
Tourism is an industry that depends on trust and a sense of security, and once those are shaken, demand immediately slows down. Additionally, the Middle East is an extremely important transit region for global air traffic, so any disruption there directly spills over into Europe, and consequently into the Balkans.
Around one-fifth of Asian tourists use Gulf airlines, and some of our partners had contracts with Qatar Airways, so cancellations through the end of May have been devastating. At the same time, disruptions in the region have already caused mass flight cancellations, problems at major hubs, and a sharp increase in aviation fuel prices, making travel more expensive and decisions more difficult. This directly affects tourism flows, especially in markets dependent on long-haul flights and pre-planned group travel
But the crisis can also be an opportunity.
The Middle East region had around 100mn tourists annually in 2025, and according to experts, the conflict could reduce this flow by 23mn-38mn tourists. A significant portion of these travelers is expected to shift to alternative safe destinations, mainly in the Mediterranean, such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Albania. Albania is already considered a safe market, which could help attract part of this tourist segment. In such a scenario, .. Albania is facing both an opportunity and a risk. The outcome will depend on the speed of response.
Zak Topuzi, president of the Albanian Tourism Association
Industry representatives remains cautious about how the situation will unfold. If air transport does not stabilise, Balkan tourist destinations will rely primarily on visitors from neighbouring countries, travelling by land.
Ohrid and the Balkans as a tourist destination will be more attractive to regional travelers because it is much easier to travel 200, 300, or 500 kilometres by land than to wait several days for delayed flights. That is why I believe this region will be more attractive this tourist season.
Ljupčo Juzmeski, tour guide from Ohrid.
See the full article at IntelliNews (English) or Ekonomija i Biznis (Macedonian)
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