Bishkek, March 10, 2026 /Kabar/. The escalating situation in the Middle East has impacted Kyrgyzstan's tourism market: tour operators are reporting a decline in sales of tours to the Persian Gulf countries and a shift in demand to other destinations.
As Talant Ozokeev, founder of a major travel company, told Kabar, due to the tensions, many tourists have become wary of flying, especially to the Persian Gulf countries – Dubai, Qatar, and Kuwait. According to him, tour sales to these destinations are currently completely suspended.
Tour companies are trying to reschedule planned trips to alternative destinations. This primarily concerns Southeast Asian countries, namely Vietnam, Thailand, and Hainan Island.
However, demand for Egypt has also declined, as some tourists are wary of flying to the region due to its proximity to Israel.
The situation has also affected tour prices. According to Ozokeev, trips to Egypt and Turkey have become cheaper, while some Southeast Asian destinations, on the contrary, are seeing price increases.
Tour operators predict that destinations to the Middle East may be virtually lost for at least the coming season, with demand shifting to Southeast Asian countries, primarily Vietnam.