WITH the Iran crisis continuing, it’s no surprise that Brits are changing their holiday plans.
Destinations like Dubai and Doha remain off the travel list, and Brits are avoiding certain long-haul destinations that involve stopovers in the Middle East – but TUI says that other holiday spots are on the rise instead.
TUI has revealed that there’s been a change in demand when it comes to Brits booking holidays.
Instead, certain locations are being favoured as a result – in particular, two Caribbean islands.
TUI’s UK&I Managing Director Neil Swanson said: “We’re seeing particularly strong demand for our direct long-haul flights to the Caribbean – especially the Dominican Republic and Jamaica – where point‑to‑point routes give customers added confidence and help them keep their holiday plans on track.”
The islands are popular year-round with Brits thanks to their sunshine, high temperatures and beautiful coastlines.
Flights to the islands are direct and take between eight and ten hours.
They also don’t pass through the Middle East as they head over the North Atlantic Ocean instead.
TUI offers holidays to Jamaica from £899 per person.
In Jamaica, a popular spot is Negril, which is the capital of the island that sits along the western tip.
Over the years it has been visited by famous faces likes Bob Marley and even The Rolling Stones.
It has the Seven Mile Beach, which offers visitors to ride across the sand on horses, and go snorkelling.
TUI offers holidays to Montego Bay too, a destination which is known for being popular with tourists with all-inclusive resorts, white-sand beaches, and nightlife.
It also has breaks to Ocho Rios which has lots of green spaces like the Dunn’s River Falls, the Blue Hole – a natural limestone sinkhole that’s considered a hidden gem.
When it comes to Jamaica, the best months to visit are December through to April when it is at its warmest and most dry.
The best time to visit the Dominican Republic is the same, and TUI offers breaks from from £899 per person.
The Dominican Republic is also one of the cheapest islands to visit.
Laura Evans Fisk, Head of Digital & Engagement at eurochange said: “As we’ve seen transactions for the Dominican peso surge this year ahead of any other currency, we can definitely expect to see the Dominican Republic at the top of travel bucket lists for UK tourists in 2026.
Beaches are beautiful all around the island, but the Dominican Republic also has two of the best in the world – Canto de la Playa and Bahia de las Aguilas.
Santo Domingo is the island’s capital, where there are find plenty of bars – and average price of a local beer is 150DOP (£1.86).
Other destinations that are on the rise for travellers include Thailand’s Phuket and Goa in India.
He said the reason is that the long-haul flights from TUI “offer customers reassuring alternatives that avoid transiting through the region.”
Neil Swanson added: “Closer to home, destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean continue to perform well, with Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cape Verde seeing increased demand in recent days.”
For more on Cape Verde – here’s what you can do on the islands that have white sand beaches, no jet lag and cheap package holidays.
And a TUI expert reveals how to save hundreds on the same holiday and the little-known money saving tool.