The travel industry is once again drawing on lessons from the pandemic, with Club Med’s general manager – Pacific & new emerging ESAP markets, Michelle Davies, saying the sector’s resilience is already being tested amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“If we’ve survived covid, we can survive this,” Davies told Travel Weekly, noting that while the situation initially triggered concern among agents, sentiment has remained relatively steady.
“Outside of the first few days, everyone’s been able to manage pretty well.”
Davies said the industry’s ability to adapt in times of disruption is well established, describing travel as “one of the most resilient industries in the world”.
“Every single time we rise to the challenge, we adapt… and we do come out the other side.”
She added that Club Med’s origins reflect a similar moment in history, having been founded after World War II when people were seeking connection, joy and a sense of escape after years of hardship.
That same instinct, she said, is still driving travel behaviour today.
That resilience is now being reflected in shifting booking behaviour, with a clear rise in interest in last-minute travel.
Club Med has seen a sharp increase in late demand, with bookings for departures before the end of June up 80 per cent.
Rather than cancelling plans altogether, travellers are delaying decisions and opting for shorter lead times, allowing them to respond to rapidly changing global conditions.
“People are still wanting to prioritise those holidays,” Davies said.
The trend suggests travellers are seeking flexibility and reassurance, choosing to lock in breaks closer to departure once they feel more confident.
At the same time, demand is consolidating closer to home, with travellers favouring destinations across Asia. Club Med said 80 per cent of traffic is now focused on the region, up from 60 per cent prior to the conflict.
Popular destinations include Bali, Phuket and Bintan Island, alongside the Maldives and parts of Japan and Malaysia, as travellers look for easier itineraries and avoid more complex long-haul routes.
Davies said this shift is also fuelling interest in all-inclusive options, as travellers look to control costs during a period of uncertainty.
Club Med’s packages are priced as a fixed, all-inclusive offering covering accommodation, meals, drinks and activities, providing certainty on overall spend. While airline fares may still fluctuate or incur surcharges, the on-ground component remains locked in.
While travellers are adjusting how they plan – favouring proximity, simplicity and flexibility – the overall appetite for travel remains strong.
“It might look a little bit different from one year to the next… but travel is still very much a priority.”
For Davies, the parallels with both covid and earlier global crises are clear: in times of uncertainty, people still seek out travel for connection, enjoyment and escape.
And if the past few years have shown anything, it’s that the industry knows how to adapt.
