JEDDAH: Johor Darul Ta'zim's (JDT) hopes of becoming the first Malaysian club to reach the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite semi-finals were dashed after a narrow 1-2 defeat to defending champions Al-Ahli on Friday (April 17).
News Analysis: Türkiye's tourism sector falters as regional conflict drives sharp drop in bookings GENEVA : Tourism officials say fewer tourists are coming to Switzerland, Austria and Great Britain due to the Iran war.
Guests from Asia cancelled in March, partly because flights via hubs in the Middle East such as Dubai were cancelled, Switzerland Tourism spokesman André Aschwanden told dpa. New bookings were also declining. 'This is all the more unfortunate because it is currently the high season in the Gulf states and also in India or South-East Asia for travel to Europe and Switzerland,' he said.
The impact is being felt in Zurich, Thomas Wüthrich, director of Zurich Tourism, told dpa. 'Feedback from the catering sector, retail and other tourist services shows that the absence of international guests was already noticeable in March,' he said. The problem was a general uncertainty about international travel, he said, leaving bookings for the summer and autumn depressed.
In Lucerne, around two thirds were reporting'a declining booking trend', said Jessica Ternes from the Hotellerie Suisse Central Switzerland association. 'Businesses with a high share of group travellers from Asia and guests from the Gulf states are particularly affected,' she said.
Great Britain is usually a magnet for guests from the Middle East. Almost a third of the big-spending tourists from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates who travelled to Europe went to Great Britain, the tourism organization VisitBritain reported. But since the war started on February 28, flight bookings from the Middle East have dropped 50% and those from India are down by a third, it said. Bookings through to July were significantly below the level of the previous year. Tourists are still waiting to see how the situation developed. -- dpaVietnamese woman jailed 14 years for selling 18 people to Thailand, Myanmar scam compoundsTop Entertainment stories of the week: Arnie's son, Charmaine's 22-inch waist, Fat Gor's properties
Switzerland Tourists Asia Cancelled Flights Gulf Travel Season Zurich Tourism Impact Lucerne Bookings Great Britain Tourism Middle East Flights Drop International Travel Uncertainty Group Travellers Affected
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Malaysia Stands Firm on Independent Stance, Criticizes Global Silence on Middle East ConflictPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirms Malaysia's commitment to speaking truth internationally, even when it challenges major powers. He highlights Malaysia's condemnation of US-backed Israeli attacks on Iran, noting the muted global reaction compared to similar events in the West. The Prime Minister expressed condolences for victims, including schoolchildren, and stated that Iran's President appreciated Malaysia's support.
Read more »
Pakistan's Military Chief and PM Conclude Middle East Peace DiplomacyPakistan's military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, concluded a three-day visit to Tehran after meeting with Iran's top leadership and peace negotiators. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned from Turkey after his own diplomatic efforts. Both visits aimed to advance a negotiated settlement to the Middle East conflict, with a second round of US-Iran talks expected in Islamabad.
Read more »
Pineapple board says diversified demand cushions Malaysia’s exports from Middle East tensionsJASIN, April 18 — The country’s pineapple export industry has not been affected by the current West Asia crisis even though a significant portion of the export market is in the...
Read more »
Strait of Hormuz Blockade: Asian and European Economies Face Energy Supply RisksFollowing the collapse of talks with Iran and subsequent US blockade on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, this report examines the potential impact on major Asian and European economies. Asian economies, excluding China, are identified as most exposed, followed by Europe, due to their reliance on energy imports passing through this critical chokepoint. Vulnerable net energy importers include Thailand, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The report highlights significant import dependencies for countries like Japan, the Philippines, India, and Italy, emphasizing risks associated with concentrated energy supply routes.
Read more »
Canton Fair under Middle East cloud, but sets records, as high costs hit China’s exportersJEDDAH: Johor Darul Ta'zim's (JDT) hopes of becoming the first Malaysian club to reach the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite semi-finals were dashed after a narrow 1-2 defeat to defending champions Al-Ahli on Friday (April 17).
Read more »
Malaysia Assures Strait of Malacca Remains Secure Amidst Middle East TensionsDefence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has stated that the Strait of Malacca will not experience the same geopolitical pressures as the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the commitment of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore to maintaining free trade and navigation.
Read more »