The rise in bookings with refund options is changing the game in tourism \u2013 here's what it means for agencies, airlines, car rental companies, and destinations<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Geopolitical tensions, from border skirmishes to plane crashes, are increasingly impacting the global travel market. In 2025, a trend is becoming increasingly apparent: tourists are increasingly choosing refundable bookings<\/strong>. Such behaviour is no longer an exception \u2013 it\u2019s becoming the new normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the latest industry reports, the number of flexible flight bookings has increased by 35% in 2025.<\/strong> years. Reasons? Increasing security threats, such as tensions on the Thailand-Cambodia border and heightened caution after aviation incidents. Travellers want a safety net \u2013 the ability to change plans without significant cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The number of such reservations is particularly growing in USA, Europe, Australia and India<\/strong>, with a strong interest in longer and more complex journeys to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conflicts like the one on the Thai-Cambodian border, although localised, have wider consequences<\/strong> \u2013 they cause waves of insecurity even in regions not directly affected. Although destinations like Bangkok and Phuket are safe, the global media coverage affects travellers\u2019 perceptions and behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Agencies, airlines and hotels reacted quickly<\/strong> \u2013 flexible terms are becoming the norm, and rigid cancellation policies are increasingly seen as a barrier to bookings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Online platforms like Booking.com, Expedia and Skyscanner<\/strong> they quickly adapted the user experience flexible travel filters<\/strong>, clear cancellation terms and additional insurance services become standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Travel agencies<\/strong> actively offer packages with flexible rules, making deals with hotels and carriers for simpler, no-cost changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flexible bookings are on the one hand helped maintain tourism<\/strong> in unstable conditions. Passengers are still booking \u2013 but with a safety net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, such a model presents a challenge for Income and planning<\/strong>. Airlines and hotels struggle to predict demand and manage capacity. Prices for flexible options therefore rise, and conditions for these are further specified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The trend for flexible bookings is not temporary. It's a reflection of a changed world, in which security, trust and customisability<\/strong> Key factors in making travel decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the industry, that means one thing: those who offer transparent, customisable options<\/strong> it will be the first choice for travellers. According to experts, \u201ctravellers are no longer just looking for a destination \u2013 they are looking for safety, control, and freedom of choice.\u201d.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Porast bookinga s mogu\u0107no\u0161\u0107u povrata novca mijenja pravila igre u turizmu \u2013 evo \u0161to to zna\u010di za agencije, zra\u010dne prijevoznike, rent a car kompanije i destinacije Geopoliti\u010dke napetosti, od pograni\u010dnih sukoba do avionskih nesre\u0107a, sve vi\u0161e utje\u010du na globalno tr\u017ei\u0161te putovanja. U 2025. sve je…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tragento_display_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[239,241,157,81,228,251,106,143,89,197],"tags":[92,179,123,91,183,117],"class_list":["post-5588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-autobusni-prijevoz","category-cruise","category-dmc","category-osvrti","category-prijevoz","category-rentacar","category-touroperatori","category-turistickaindustrija","category-vijesti","category-zeljeznicki-prijevoz","tag-agencije","tag-destinacije","tag-dmc","tag-hotels","tag-rentacar","tag-touroperatori"],"yoast_head":"\n35% more flexible bookings: safety becomes a priority<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nGeopolitics dictates trends<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe largest growth recorded in:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nTechnology and agencies as allies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n