West Asia conflict sends Indian tourists to safer Southeast

Indian leisure and business travellers are deferring or cancelling trips to West Asia, Europe, and the United States (US) amid heightened regional tensions following the Israel-Iran war that also affected Qatar and prompted airspace closures across several Gulf nations, disrupting one of the world's busiest travel corridors.

- GULVEEN AULAKH

Online travel portals, tour operators, and agents have reported a sharp rise in rescheduling over the past few days, with 25-30 per cent of Indian travellers postponing or altering plans to Western destinations. They are increasingly choosing Southeast Asian countries—Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia—over West-bound destinations, with a spike in last-minute bookings and inquiries over the past week.

"There's a clear uptick in postponements and rescheduling, especially for routes involving Europe, the US East Coast, and West Asia. Based on inputs from our members, we estimate 25-30 per cent of travellers are either deferring or altering their plans to Western destinations. Corporate travel and incentive groups are being particularly careful, as travel policies tend to be more risk-sensitive," said Ravi Gosain, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators.