Iran War Pushes Chinese Travelers Closer to Home

Over half of mainland Chinese travelers would not consider visiting the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the next three months, according to a survey conducted by travel research firm Dragon Trail International.

Releasing later today, the research also found that nearly 7% of travelers have already canceled booked trips to the region as a result of the Iran War, and the Middle East has dropped three places in destination preference rankings — from seventh to tenth.

The numbers reflect a broader anxiety. For the first time in the surveys, which Dragon Trail has conducted since China lifted its Covid-era travel restrictions, international security has overtaken cost, personal finances, and work-life arrangements as the single most powerful factor influencing where Chinese travelers choose to go. In the survey of 1038 respondents,85%said