Tourism Shifts Due to Balkans War

The war in Yugoslavia is not affecting tourism as much as the Gulf War did in 1991, although bookings are shifting away from the region and toward destinations such as Spain, Portugal and North Africa, the World Tourism Organization reported.

Among the biggest losers, according to a report in the trade newsletter Travel Management Daily, are Croatia (30% to 50% decline in tourism expected this year), Hungary (down 20% to 30% in April), Prague (hotel cancellations reaching 50%) and Turkey. Reorganizations and war-related route changes are expected to make air travel in Europe this summer “especially difficult,” the WTO said. Still, it predicted global tourism will grow 3% to 4% this year.