Airlines and hoteliers have warned that the conflict in Ukraine is causing high-spending US travellers to hold off visiting Europe, slowing the industry’s long recovery from the pandemic.
Dermot Crowley, chief executive of the Irish hotel group Dalata, told the Financial Times that “concern” over the Russian invasion of Ukraine “may make North Americans nervous about coming to Europe”, while French hotel operator Accor said it expected bookings across all hotel groups in Europe to suffer.
A US airline official agreed, saying American tourists were likely to be put off visiting parts of the continent, particularly central or eastern Europe, citing the slowdown in US visitors travelling east during the first Gulf war.