LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Travel to the Middle East is stirring up new concerns for Michiganders.
Safety alerts among shifting global tensions have people asking questions before they book. For many Michiganders, summer means European getaways or spiritual journeys to the Middle East. As the peak travel season begins, global tensions are changing some Michiganders’ vacation plans.
Kristin Nelson-Garcia of KNG Adventures in Mason says not just to the Middle East. Some travelers are rethinking trips to parts of Europe, too, amid growing global unrest.
“People were just concerned with the tension in the Middle East, and they have chosen to postpone their trips to Ireland and Alaska, which are a little further from the conflict regions,” said Nelson-Garcia.
The U.S. State Department currently lists several Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Israel, as level 4 – do not travel locations, with Iraq, Syria, Yemen, the West Bank, and Gaza.
“There’s always a little bit of concern because you’re going to a place that you’re not familiar with, and if you’re going to another country, then you also have some of those cultural differences,” said Nelson-Garcia.
Several US airlines have rerouted or temporarily suspended flights to the region in response to both government guidance and customer concern.
“There’s definitely more cause and consideration around where people are wanting to put their money right now. It’s not my job to convince somebody to go somewhere; it’s my responsibility to hear your concerns and to work with you to figure out what the next best option is,” said Nelson-Garcia.
While some of her customers have canceled, Nelson-Garcia says many are shifting to destinations with more stability or booking with flexibility, choosing refundable options or cancel-for-any-reason insurance.
“Focusing more on national park trips, going down to Disney World, or just hanging out at a beach in Alabama or something like that. They’re not stopping, they’re just redirecting.”
Experts say, before you book, check advisories at state.travel.gov. Consider insurance that covers cancellations or interruptions, and always have a backup plan, just in case.
While some travel plans are shifting, experts say flexibility, whether in your booking, timing, or destination, can make all the difference this summer.
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