World tourism map changes due to global crisis

Terror attacks, disease outbreaks and migrant crisis devastate tourism sector on a global level

Muslim countries have been especially affected by the crisis, as tourists switched their preferences to safer destinations.

Tunisia's visitor numbers decreased by 2 million last year, after deadly attacks targeting tourists. The country's economy was seriously shaken, as tourism accounts for 1o per cent of Tunisian GDP.

Turkey faced a year full of bad news too: the attacked in Istanbul is the main cause for the significant booking drop, the lowest in the last decade.

Jordan is a “collateral damage country” regarding terror attacks. Jordan’s tourism minister Nayef al-Fayez explains:

“There was no attack, but we were affected tremendously by a drop of visitors coming from Europe.”

Westerns tourists are confused about Middle East situation and prefer to avoid all regions to stay safe. Greece, Portugal and Spain are the main beneficiaries of this situation, with unexpected booking demands.

Cuba is another destination that is thriving, in the light of the more relaxed. Tourism numbers here rose by 17% in 2015.

Nevertheless, Haiti’s tourism sector begins to revive, after the devastating earthquake six years ago.

Colombia, Peru, Mexico and Argentina are expected to be affected by Zika outbreaks in the near future, following the same scenario as sub-Saharan Africa and Ebola, Chikungunya in the Caribbean and Camel flu in South Korea.

The migrant crisis scared tourists off the Greek islands, once a very safe and thriving destination.

According to Euromonitor data, “the Greek islands, especially tourism in Kos, have been severely damaged, as holidaymakers feel uneasy about the situation.”

178,000 tourists cancelled their holidays here between January and August 2015 only.