Stranded people at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia, March 1, 2026.Image: keystone
Mar 2, 2026, 5:16 p.mMar 2, 2026, 5:16 p.m
If package tours to the Middle East are canceled or disrupted due to the war situation, travelers often have to bear additional costs themselves. are tour operators In the event of so-called force majeure, we are obliged to provide support, but are not liable for failures or additional costs, writes the Swiss Travel Association in a statement on its website on Monday.
Specifically, organizers would have to organize help with the return journey and, if necessary, enable extended hotel stays. The contractual obligation to perform remains in effect. However, if additional costs arise due to flight cancellations or the security situation – for example for alternative flights or longer stays – the travelers must generally cover these themselves.
Whether travel insurance comes into play depends on the individual case. If planned trips cannot take place due to security risks, organizers would have to inform customers and offer rebookings or free cancellations.
Emirates and Saudi Arabia pay
The United Arab Emirates have been accommodating so far. According to authorities, they cover the costs of accommodation for stranded passengers in the country. This applies to “all accommodation and meal costs for affected and stranded passengers”. According to information, airports and national airlines have already served around 20,200 passengers whose flights had to be postponed.
In Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Ministry announced that, at the suggestion of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman had approved the accommodation of all Gulf state citizens stranded in the country at airports until their safe return to their homeland was possible.
After the US-Israeli attack on Iran and its retaliatory strikes in the Middle East, there were large-scale airspace closures and travel warnings for several countries in the region. The Swiss Foreign Ministry not only issued travel warnings for Israel and Iran. Since the weekend, it has also officially advised against tourist and non-urgent travel to Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. (sda/awp)