Industry feels impact as Middle East tensions rise

[AP Photo]

The tourism industry has expressed concerns over the current situation in Iran, claiming that impacts on local businesses were felt immediately.

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, several airlines have cancelled flights via Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

In an interview with public broadcaster TDM, Andy Wu, president of the Travel Industry Council of Macau, said that the impacts on local tourism operators have had immediate effects.

He referred to the case of a Portuguese tour group of about 80 people who were originally scheduled to arrive in Macau yesterday but saw their trip cancelled due to the cancellation of their connection flight in Dubai.

Wu said impacts are expected to increase over the coming week, as other European tour groups scheduled to visit Macau are likely to be affected in the same way.

Local authorities also warned residents with trips scheduled to the Middle East or Europe that these are most likely to be affected by the current situation, advising them to pay attention to airline warnings and notifications.

In response to the current security situation in Iran, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has raised the travel alert level for the country to the highest level, Level 3, which warns of an extreme threat and advises avoiding travel to Iran.

In a media interview on Sunday, MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said that the measures were taken in response to the evolving situation on the ground, with authorities advising residents in the area to evacuate as soon as possible.

Senna Fernandes also noted that MGTO is conducting daily assessments of the situation, not excluding the possibility of issuing additional travel warnings to neighboring countries.

Asked about plans to promote Macau in Middle Eastern countries, Senna Fernandes said that for now MGTO is focusing on closely monitoring developments to determine whether adjustments to work plans are necessary. She added that, for the time being, ensuring safety is the top priority.

One of the events in which local authorities plan to participate is the Dubai Tourism Fair (Arabian Travel Market 2026), scheduled for early May.

The MGTO director said that no decision has been made on this matter, as there are still two months until the event date, but noted that authorities will conduct a comprehensive assessment based on developments and the local situation.