Just 5% of Southeast Asia’s Travel Operators Unaffected By Iran War

Nearly half of Southeast Asian travel businesses say their prospects in the second quarter of 2026 are worse than anticipated due to the Iran war.

The ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) and research firm Pear Anderson, surveyed 157 companies across Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, between March 8-18. Two-thirds of those surveyed are travel agents or outbound tour operators, the rest are inbound tour operators, destination management companies and accommodation providers.

Several major Middle Eastern airports, like Dubai International, Doha’s Hamad International, and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International, are vital connection points for travelers flying between Southeast Asia and Europe. 

Airports in the Middle East handle roughly one-third of the estimated 125 million passengers traveling between Europe and Asia each year, according to The Nation Thailand.

Because these airports are s