Demand for Singapore travel on the rise amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East
Travel demand for Singapore is increasing as New Zealanders seek alternatives to Middle Eastern flight corridors due to regional conflicts. While travel to the United States has declined due to currency exchange rates and geopolitical concerns, interest in Japan is rising.
Why it matters
Shifting travel patterns reflect how geopolitical instability and economic factors influence global tourism and airline route planning.
The travel industry is holding up well, despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising fuel prices, according to the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand CEO, Julie White.
Speaking to Morning Report , White said June transactions were up 12 percent compared to 2025.
"Kiwis are really resilient, and what has come through loud and clear is that Kiwis love to travel.
"It's no longer a discretional part of their expenditure, it's now become part of their annual budget."
With some disruption through the popular travel corridor of the Middle East, there had been a rise in the number of people travelling via places like Singapore rather than through Dubai, to get to Europe.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in