The war leaves Catania without flights to the East, first cancellations in Taormina hotels

Striking Dubai means closing the main gateway between Europe and Asia. And Sicily is no exception. Those who want to reach the island from the Far East or Australia have a stopover in the Emirati Arab Emirates that is almost mandatory. Thus, the consequences of the war that Israel and the United States have undertaken against Iran are also visible at Catania airport, the only Sicilian airport with a direct connection to Dubai with four weekly flights (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday). In the first ten days of conflict, five flights were canceled at Fontanarossa: about a thousand passengers left stranded. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what tourism on the island risks suffering.

With the operational blockade of the Gulf hubs – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha – the canceled flights worldwide have been in the thousands, estimated at 10 percent of the total. This has led to a surge in prices, especially on routes between Asia and Europe. Changing course, bypassing the Middle Eastern scenario, indeed entails lengthening journeys by thousands of kilometers, with increased fuel costs (which in turn is subject to an exceptional spike in costs). "This scenario - explains Nico Torrisi, CEO of Sac, the company that manages Fontanarossa - generates in passengers uncertainty, fear, and generally caution. 

Those who can postpone a planned trip are doing so. And this is starting to be seen in the principal tourist destination of Sicily, Taormina, where the primary market for visitors comes from the United States. "We have a 5-6 percent cancellation rate from the U.S. alone," says Stefano Gegnacorsi, a highly experienced hotel manager and owner of Palazzo Vecchio, one of the five-star hotels in Taormina. Theoretically, no logistical difficulties prevent American tourists - especially high-end ones - from reaching Sicily, unlike what is currently happening for Australians and Asians. "But across the ocean, there is a segment of customers who in this phase of uncertainty prefer not to travel - he adds - or are not fully aware of the distances between Italy and the war scenario." 

However, in the tourist village there is not too much concern, because, despite everything, bookings for the spring and summer months are overall increasing compared to 2025. At least in the five-star sector, as confirmed by both Gegnarcorsi and Melissa Noce, hotel manager of Atlantis Bay. "Fortunately, the trend remains positive - emphasizes the latter - There is probably a shift in destination among Europeans in favor of Sicily."

Indeed, because tourist flows must be viewed as a whole. As has already happened in other emergency phases - Covid and the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war - if long trips slow down, often as a counterbalance, those to closer and safer destinations increase. From this point of view, adds Christian Del Bono, president of Federalberghi Isole Eolie, "we hope for an increase in arrivals from European markets and perhaps last minute bookings, since many will wait to see how the international scenario evolves."