Overview
- Tours and hotel bookings have slumped in eastern and southeastern Turkey, while major resorts such as Antalya, Bodrum and Istanbul report steady reservations, according to industry groups quoted this week.
- Turkey reported three suspected Iranian ballistic missiles intercepted over its territory in early March and moved to bolster air defenses, as German guidance advises against non‑essential travel to specific border provinces but stops short of a nationwide warning.
- Egypt is introducing short-term energy-saving rules that cut shop and restaurant hours and dim public lighting after a sharp jump in gas import costs, and the visa-on-arrival fee has risen to $30 for visitors.
- Flight routes across the region remain unsettled as parts of Gulf airspace face closures and delays, and officials urge travelers to monitor airline notices, avoid military sites and keep contact details current on consular registries.
- Travel firms warn of softer new bookings and possible fare increases, Oxford Economics projects a double‑digit drop in Middle East visitors this year, and operators in Turkey’s border regions say they are processing waves of refunds.