Hello and welcome to today's independent travel podcast with me, Simon Calder. It's Tuesday,

the 24th of March, Travel Desk Tuesday. And today I'm talking to Global Travel Editor Annabel Grossman.

We're looking back over 25 days of conflict in the Gulf. Of course,

an extraordinary human tragedy for so many people. Also very disruptive for the travel industry.

Just a reminder that on the 28th of February, the US and Israel launched surprise

airstrikes on Iran. Tehran retaliated by attacking key infrastructure in the Gulf

nations, including airports and hotels. Much of the airspace in the region remains closed disrupting the plans of millions of

travellers. The Foreign Office has placed the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait on the no-go list.

Having said that, many people, including me, have been connecting through Dubai and Abu Dhabi

airports, basically because it is far cheaper than otherwise. So Annabel, first of all, from what

you have been watching, you've not been personally caught up in this as far as I know, but what's your view on the level of disruption?

I've been fortunate not to have been caught up in it.

I was actually meant to be travelling to Amman, so I could very well have been.

And I think, I mean, there's a couple of things.

First of all, just overall, I've been quite saddened by the disruption

and the impact it's going to have on the Gulf and the wider Middle East. Some of my favourite

countries in the world are in the Middle East. Last year, I spent a lot of time in Jordan, and I think

it's such a shame that it's really going to suffer from lack of tourism now and slightly less

concerned about the Gulf States, as I think they have a stronger

backup. But I do feel it is a real shame, number one, that people are going to be travelling here

less. Secondly, I think it's very hard to underestimate just how significant this travel disruption

is. We're not talking about slight delays here and there. We're talking about people being stranded

...