Tour operators note rise in Spain bookings following Tunisia attack

The devastating gun attack is set to decimate Tunisia’s tourism industry.

Thousands of sun-seeking Brits that cancelled their holidays to Tunisia after the beach attack in late June have switched in their droves to Spain, tour operators have reported…

The gun attack, which killed 38 holidaymakers (30 of whom were Brits) has shaken Tunisia’s tourist industry, which had been recovering well in the years following the Arab Spring in 2011.

However, market research firm Euromonitor has noted that many thousands of tourists who had either booked or planned on holidaying in Tunisia are now looking at alternatives – with Spain fitting the bill perfectly.

“Spain targets a similar type of tourist to Tunisia – those seeking a value-for-money all-inclusive holiday with guaranteed sunshine,” said Euromonitor’s travel analyst Angelo Rossini.

However, Juan Molas, chairman of the Spanish Hotel Federation Cehat, warned that those looking to switch their booking at short notice may be forced to pay a premium.

“It is clear that some tourists will now change Tunisia for Spain, but they will have to pay more,” said Molas. With Bulgaria’s tourism sector having suffered the effects of Russia’s currency crisis (the Black Sea resorts are traditionally popular with Russian holidaymakers), some tour operators are pushing the country as a good alternative to Tunisia.

However, traditional beach destination rivals Turkey and Greece are set to struggle against Spain’s offering of a stable economy and generally safe environment. Greece is facing the very-real prospect of economic meltdown over the next few days – with tourists warned that stores could run out of food and medical supplies – while Turkey has endured political unrest and shares a border with ISIS-controlled territory in Syria and Iraq.

“After the incident in Tunisia, Turkey, as a Muslim nation, may be even more negatively impacted, because all of these types of events keep occurring in Muslim nations,” said Timur Bayindir, head of the Touristic Hotels & Investors Association (TUROB) Turkey.

With First Choice and Thomson flying back more than 6,000 British tourists early from Tunisia last week, the situation looks grim for the country’s tourism industry. The two leading holiday companies have cancelled all holidays to Tunisia until July 9, and have offered either a full refund or free switch to those already booked.

Both operators are now offering discounts on an extra 15 new flight destinations until October, including a handful of new flights to Spain. Thomas Cook has done likewise, and has begun block-buying thousands of hotel rooms in Spain in anticipation of increased demand.