With contributions by Claudia Gualdi
The global travel landscape is set for a transformative year in 2025, shaped by geopolitical tensions, evolving security measures and shifting regional dynamics. For many parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and parts of Africa, 2025 will bring heightened uncertainty and disruptions.
Meanwhile, Asia stands as a beacon of opportunity, implementing forward-thinking policies to boost tourism and create new pathways for travellers. As geopolitical risks shape travel choices, flexibility and resilience will be the key to navigating the complex and ever-changing global landscape.
Global travel: Disruptions and unstable routes
The geopolitical climate of 2025 promises to continue reshaping travel, with ongoing conflicts, security issues and economic instability driving significant changes in how people travel.
Conflict zones such as Russia-Ukraine and some regions in the Middle East are prompting airlines to reassess and modify their established flight paths. Frequent airspace closures in some regions and long-standing restrictions in others force airlines to adopt longer, costlier routes. For instance, most European airlines now avoid Russian airspace, a restriction that has persisted since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, adding hours to Asia-bound flights. Finnair has been particularly affected, with its Helsinki-Tokyo route now extended by four hours to 13 hours. These shifts highlight the operational challenges airlines face amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“Travellers heading to these regions should brace themselves for last-minute changes or cancellations,” says Claudia Gaudi, our Travel Intelligence Team Lead. “Tensions in Eastern Europe and ongoing violence in West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are making travel there unpredictable.” And it’s not just these regions—places like Haiti and Venezuela are facing political crises that come with flight restrictions and reduced options.
With all this uncertainty, flexibility is the key to navigate those challenges. Travellers should always have a backup plan, as unexpected route changes could leave them stranded. Unfortunately, it looks like these disruptions will remain a reality for international travel for a while longer.
Middle East and Europe: Challenges on the horizon
The Middle East will remain a challenging region for global travellers, particularly with the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, now spilling into neighbouring countries like Lebanon and Iran. Many airlines have suspended flights to these regions, meaning longer travel times and higher prices as flights are rerouted to safer paths.
“Travellers should keep an eye on government updates and airline announcements to stay ahead of these changes,” Claudia advises. “If you’re in an affected area, make sure your documents are up-to-date and consider registering with your embassy. Employers with staff in these regions should also prepare for any emergencies and keep relocation options in mind if the situation worsens.”
Meanwhile, Europe isn’t immune to challenges. Many countries have reinstated temporary Schengen border controls to address security concerns, making it trickier to get around. On top of that, the EU plans to implement new systems like the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) and the EU Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to better track non-EU visitors and tighten security.
Asia: A growing network of accessible destinations
While the geopolitical landscape presents challenges in some regions, Asia emerges as a major opportunity for growth in global tourism. The region is undergoing significant changes, with countries implementing visa reforms, increased cooperation and strategic partnerships to make travel easier and more appealing.
Take Malaysia and Singapore, for example—they’ve teamed up with China on a reciprocal visa waiver agreement, which has sparked a 150% jump in tourist arrivals in just the first half of 2024. Thailand is also stepping up, now allowing visitors from 93 countries to stay visa-free for up to 60 days. Meanwhile, China has made things easier for European travellers by streamlining entry requirements.
These initiatives are a powerful example of how strategic policy decisions can have a positive impact on the global travel industry. Asia’s growing accessibility stands in contrast to the restrictions and disruptions that travellers are facing in other parts of the world.
Preparing for 2025
The travel industry in 2025 is at a turning point, facing big challenges but also exciting opportunities. The Middle East and Eastern Europe will continue to be difficult regions for travel due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, conflicts and border restrictions. Travellers will need to be highly adaptable, with flexible travel plans, backup routes and a keen eye on government advisories.
On the other hand, Asia’s forward-thinking approach to visa policies and international cooperation offers a promising future for tourism in the region. As countries like Malaysia, Thailand and China open their doors wider to international visitors, the travel industry has the chance to tap into new, growing markets. Asia’s increasing accessibility is not only good news for travellers but also for travel businesses, which can capitalise on this positive trend by offering new experiences to customers.
Resilience and adaptability will be key to success in 2025. The travel industry must lean on technology, collaboration and strategic foresight to address both the volatility in conflict zones and the booming travel prospects in Asia. By seizing new opportunities in the region while preparing for ongoing disruptions elsewhere, the industry can turn adversity into opportunity, making travel more accessible for all.
