Up to 30,000 tourists from Germany stranded in Middle East due to war

Up to 30,000 customers of German travel agencies are affected by the war in the Middle East, a leading trade group said on Monday, as a German tour operator set up a crisis hotline for travellers in the region.

Anja Karliczek, the chairwoman of the tourism committee in Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, told dpa that "the safety of tourists and travellers stranded in the crisis region is naturally our top priority."

Figures from the German Travel Association suggest around 30,000 tourists are unable to fly home after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran on Saturday, sparking a regional escalation as Tehran fired missiles against US bases in several Gulf states.

Karliczek expressed confidence that authorities and the tourism industry would take the necessary steps after a quick analysis of the situation.

"Then we all hope that holidaymakers stranded in the crisis region will quickly be able to leave via regular and safe routes," she said.