Global conflict, anti-tourism sentiment, and Trump: Brits’ top travel concerns of summer 2025
Travel news·3 min read
Holidaymakers’ concerns shift from the economy and extreme weather, to geopolitical issues, conflict, and the anti-tourist sentiment of a holiday destination
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New data has revealed global conflict, anti-tourist sentiment across Europe, and the Trump administration as the fastest growing issues holidaymakers to reconsider their travel plans.
The concerns were identified in a bi-annual study by Holiday Extras that tracks issues consumers say impact their decisions on where to travel in the year ahead, with the latest report highlighting these as the only topics where concern has grown in the last six months.
Growing tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine have contributed to the biggest shift in concerns among travellers, with over a third (38%) of those polled worried it might impact their plans this summer – up from a quarter (24%) in January.
A series of coordinated protests across Europe, which saw heated demonstrations in popular destinations including Spain, Italy, and Portugal in June, has also had an impact on tourists. The issue has become the fourth highest concern (40%) for those planning their escapes, the second fastest growing concern reported.
Attitudes towards Donald Trump are another notable concern that has increased since the last report. The President’s controversial policies are causing more Brits to stay away from the US, with more than a fifth (21%) of those polled saying his presidency could impact their travel plans.
While the top three worries remain extreme weather (41%), travel strikes (41%), and the cost of living (41%), Holiday Extras notes a clear shift in concern away from the economy and climate towards geopolitical issues and conflict.
Rising concerns making UK travellers consider changing their holiday plans – June 2025
| Travel concern | No. travellers changing their plans (%) | Change since Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine | 38% | +14% |
| Anti-tourist sentiment or protests | 40% | +8% |
| Donald Trump | 21% | +6% |
| Strikes at airports or on public transport | 41% | -1% |
| Risk of unemployment | 23% | -2% |
| Inflation | 36% | -3% |
| Cost of living crisis | 41% | -7% |
| Extreme weather | 41% | -9% |
Seamus McCauley – Head of Public Affairs at Holiday Extras commented:
“We’re only at the start of summer and have already seen tensions in the Middle East, anti-tourist demonstrations across Europe, and the policies of Donald Trump hit the headlines – and the impact this is having on holiday plans is clear.
“Holidaymakers are less concerned about the economy, their finances, and extreme weather, all things that have weighed heavily on their minds the past two years. Instead they’re considering how politics and conflict will impact their break.
“While holidaymakers will still be looking for destinations where they can get more for their money and can experience warm weather without the extreme highs and events that could happen in peak season, these concerns might see them seek locations far from these tensions, where they can rest assured knowing their holiday won’t be affected.”