Seoul: South Korean tourists in the Middle East are gradually returning home in the wake of escalating tensions in the region, travel industry sources said Thursday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, more than 400 tourists from major travel agencies had been staying in Dubai as of Wednesday, including about 150 customers of Hana Tour, some 190 customers of Mode Tour, and around 70 from Yellow Balloon Tour.

Hana Tour reported that 40 of its customers left Dubai earlier in the day and are scheduled to arrive in South Korea later Thursday. Mode Tour has also arranged an alternative flight for 39 customers, who are expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport later in the day. Following these departures, around 330 South Korean tourists are still expected to remain in Dubai. Tourists in other Middle Eastern countries are apparently returning home without major issues, according to the companies.

A Hana Tour official stated that its group tourists currently in Cairo are returning home without disruption. Meanwhile, a Yellow Balloon Tour official mentioned that the company is arranging alternative flights for its customers in Cairo and Amman, Jordan, for later this week.