Travel Megatrends 2018: European Travelers Return to Disrupted Destinations
Photo Caption: Destinations like Turkey and Egypt are becoming popular once again with European travelers. Bett Norris
Skift Take
Things can change very quickly in travel. Geopolitics plays a big part in deciding a destination’s popularity. With Spain undergoing its own problems, and fewer terrorist incidents taking place in North Africa and the Middle East, the tourist spread is starting to rebalance itself.
Skift Megatrends 2018
In January 2018 released our annual travel industry trends forecast, Skift Megatrends 2018. You can read about each of the trends on Skift, or download a copy of our magazine here.Every summer, millions of European tourists head abroad for two weeks of sunshine with those living in the north of the continent — think the Nordics, UK, and Germany — likely to seek warmth outside their home countries. France, Portugal, and, Spain have long been the dominant destinations, but over the last couple of decades, mass tourism has been growing on the southern and eastern fringes of the Mediterranean. Cheap flights and accommodations have made Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia appealing to those on a limited budget.
Over time, they all rose in popularity. But during the past year and a half, this trend reversed. For slightly differing reasons, all three countries have suffered from lower numbers, as many potential foreign visitors decided it was just too much of a risk to visit. In all three countries, tourism has been a huge contributor to overall gross domestic product; more recently, reduced numbers have meant depleted receipts.
Slowly, though, thing
