Hotel bookings for March and early April have dropped sharply due to the Middle East conflict, with around 60% of reservations for that period cancelled, according to Maia Tsereteli, Vice President of McInerney Hospitality International.
She told BMG that cancellations mainly concern guests from Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, where April is traditionally a major holiday season. However, bookings for the months following May are rising, partly because some of the demand that was previously directed to Middle Eastern destinations is now being redirected to Georgia.
“From June through August, we are seeing an increase in inquiries and new reservations. This shows that certain bookings originally meant for Middle Eastern countries are shifting to Georgia, which is a positive trend,” Tsereteli said.
Despite this outlook, she cautioned that the situation remains uncertain because the trajectory of the war is unpredictable. “Tourists who planned vacations in the Middle East need alternative destinations. If Georgia fills part of this gap, it will be beneficial for us - but for now, we are in a turbulent environment,” she added.
