Saudi Strikes Spill Over Into Gulf Tourism, Operators Say

Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia are making inbound travelers more hesitant about the rest of the Gulf. Hotels and tour operators in the UAE and Oman report softer forward bookings and more safety questions, though the hard data so far shows a much smaller hit than in Saudi Arabia.

“Unfortunately, the media doesn’t separate the Middle East as such and places an umbrella approach on the region, hence the spillover is a natural phenomenon,” said Naim Maadad, CEO of Gates Hospitality, which manages the luxury Six Senses Zighy Bay resort in Oman. “Fueled by travel alerts from embassies and consulates, travel insurance restrictions, [and] airlift service restrictions … we continue having very little tourism, if any, since the end of February. Tourist fears have been reignited by the Saudi strikes as travel advisories have gone back to stricter levels.” 

Nearly all current bookings come from local residents, and most are made at the last minute, Maadad