The disruption to international travel caused by the Middle East conflict has changed the picture for golf tourism in ways that point toward England. Golfers who had Turkey, Cyprus or the Gulf on the calendar are looking for alternatives. Inbound bookings from long-haul markets are up, and a major championship in July gives the season a centrepiece that would draw visitors in any year. This is our read of where things stand and what it means for England’s courses.
The backdrop is a global energy market still adjusting to the Middle East disruption. Oil prices have been volatile but are expected to ease as the year progresses, which should bring some relief on airfares going into autumn and winter. For the summer season, jet fuel costs remain elevated and that is reflected in ticket prices — but flights are running, schedules are intact, and England is fully open for golf.
Fewer than 1% of UK departures have been cancelled through to mid-June, and the major carriers have confirmed services will run as planned. Fares are running 10–20% above last year on European routes, and Air Passenger Duty rose on 1 April — so the cost of travelling abroad has gone up. For context on competing destinations: Cyprus is down close to 40% on bookings, Belek has fallen sharply, Greece is down around 10%. Portugal and Spain are holding up. For golfers choosing to stay in England, all of this works in our favour.
England — with its links, heathland and parkland, its variety and its history — is a genuinely compelling answer to what those golfers are searching for. A golfer who had Belek on the calendar and is now reconsidering has a budget and is ready to book. Make sure your availability is current, your offer is clear, and the path from first click to confirmed tee time is as short as possible.
American golf visitors are in good shape. Broader consumer confidence figures look difficult, but the Americans who travel to play golf in England are not typical consumers — they are higher-income, independently minded, and their golf travel is a fixture of how they live. That group travels through periods of wider economic uncertainty without breaking stride.
Those with Open Championship trips already booked are coming — The Open at Royal Birkdale does not lose its pull. For Americans who were considering England for later in 2026 but have not yet committed, now is the moment for operators with US relationships to make contact. A personal note — not a sales push, just a clear and warm “here is what we have and when” — is often all it takes.
The summer of 2026 is shaping up as a strong one for England’s golf sector. Fares will ease toward autumn, opening up another window later in the year. The demand is real, it is motivated, and England has the courses to meet it.