The international travel sector has been firmly in the spotlight in recent days as two major players have published results.

And the effect of the Middle East conflict has featured prominently in both.

The overseas travel sector has, post-pandemic, enjoyed strong tailwinds as people have shown a strong appetite for exploring after a protracted period in which it was either impossible or difficult to do so.

In a UK context, this appetite has been notable because the general economic backdrop has been so miserable for such a long time.

The conflict between the US and Iran is proving more protracted than many had hoped.

And this conflict has been very much a focus for analysts as they have digested the financial results of airline and package holiday giant TUI and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) this week.

In general terms, the degree to which the Middle East conflict has influenced people’s leisure travel decisions has been surprising.

Where people have been travelling to or through the region, the conflict has understandably had a great effect.

What has seemed somewhat remarkable has been the reluctance of some people in the UK to book travel to short-haul European destinations unaffected by the conflict, where they have had the money to do so.

Of course, there has rightly been extensive media coverage of the conflict. We have also had what have so far turned out to be overdone, and at times hysterical, scare stories about jet-fuel shortages. And there has been much talk of the inflationary pressures arising from the rise in crude oil prices.

On the last point, it is important to realise we are not talking about anything like the kind of UK inflationary pressures seen in 2022, although that period no doubt sticks in people’s........

© Herald Scotland