The US and Israeli attack on Iran that has sent shockwaves through the Middle East is already being felt in Sevilla’s tourism sector.

With major aviation hubs such as Qatar and Dubai effectively paralysed, thousands of flights have been cancelled.

The disruption has severed key air bridges between Europe and Asia, raising concerns about the flow of high-spending visitors from Japan, China and Southeast Asia to the Andalucian capital.

Other destinations, such as Malaga, will also be worried about the impact. Qatar Airways has already been forced to suspend flights to the Costa del Sol capital this week.

Manuel Cornax, president of the Association of Hotels of Sevilla and Province, said the industry had placed ‘great confidence’ in Asian markets.

‘Middle East hubs are precisely the bridge that connects Japan, Korea or China with our destination – and right now that bridge is completely blocked,’ Cornax said ahead of a tourism conference in Sevilla on Monday.

In recent years, visitors from Japan in particular have grown in importance for the city, forming part of a high-spending segment that hotels were counting on to support expansion plans – including the opening of 54 new hotels across the province.

Could US visitors also rethink travel?

Cornax also warned that the conflict could influence American tourism.

‘When the United States is directly involved in an international conflict, its citizens tend to travel less abroad,’ he said.

‘We’ll have to see whether that ends up benefiting us or harming us. At the moment, Europe – and Spain in particular – are among the safest places to travel.’

He declined to estimate potential losses, saying the situation remains fluid.

‘This kind of crisis discourages people. What started as something very local now affects a vast geographical area,’ he added.

No impact expected on Holy Week and Feria

Despite international uncertainty, Cornax insisted that Sevilla’s two flagship spring events – Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril – are unlikely to suffer.

‘The majority of visitors during those dates are domestic tourists, so I don’t expect bookings to be affected,’ he predicted.

Lingering concerns over domestic travel

However, Cornax did express concern about the psychological impact of the recent Adamuz train accident on national tourism.

‘Many people still use trains for business travel, but leisure travel seems to have slowed. It’s a psychological issue – and those are harder to overcome,’ he said.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.