West Asia Crisis Reroutes Tourists

'Travellers are considering safer and more stable destinations.'

India Travel Shift

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes.
A woman in a traditional kimono strolls down a Japanese street, gracefully holding an umbrella. Photograph: Kind courtesy Evgeny Tchebotarev/Pexels.com

With the war in West Asia raging on, outbound travel from India is set to witness a shift in the opposite direction -- eastwards.

Destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Mauritius, Bali, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and even far-east countries like Japan, Australia and New Zealand are becoming more popular.

Key Points

Indian outbound travel is shifting eastward as geopolitical tensions in West Asia disrupt traditional travel routes and destinations.
Southeast Asia and Far East destinations are gaining popularity due to affordability, proximity, and perceived stability among travellers.
Visa-on-arrival policies and higher spending capacity despite rupee depreciation are boosting demand for alternative international destinations.
Travel to Europe and the UK has become costlier due to disrupted transit routes, prompting discounts from tour operators.
Domestic tourism and spiritual travel are witnessing increased interest as some travellers postpone or avoid international trips.

Outbound Travel Shifts Eastward

Visa-on-arrival facilities at many of these countries and higher propensity of travellers to spend due to rupee depreciating versus the dollar, have also made these destinations more attractive amid larger geopolitical uncertainty, said market watchers.

"In the past, we have observed that in cases of region-specific disruption, people don't give up on their trips, they figure out and book an alternative destination, whether domestic or a non-impacted international one. We are seeing the same pattern now," said Rajesh Magow, cofounder and group CEO, MakeMyTrip.

Geopolitical Impact On Travel Trends

Rajeev Kale, president and country head, Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, "The global travel landscape has become increasingly dynamic."

"Recognising the geopolitical uncertainty in very specific parts of the world, we are witnessing growing interest for destinations across the Far East, including Japan, Australia and New Zealand, alongside closer-to-home favourites such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan," says Kale

West Asia Bookings Decline

Of the total outbound travel from India, the United Arab Emirates makes up the largest chunk with over 8.6 million arrivals.

Global estimates suggested West Asia tourism could see an 11 to 27 per cent decline in arrivals and a loss of up to 23 to 38 million visitors in 2026, pointed out Anil Kalsi, board member of the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality.

"With bookings down by 30-60 per cent on certain routes, especially those linked to or transiting through West Asia, travellers are considering safer and more stable destinations," he said.

"We are observing a clear shift in travellers' preference toward Southeast Asia, driven by proximity, affordability, and perceived stability. Destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam are seeing stronger traction across both leisure and MICE segments," said Vinod Kumar Sah, cofounder, CoTrav.

Domestic Travel And Spiritual Circuits Rise

S D Nandakumar, president and country head -- holidays and corporate tours, SOTC Travel, said "experiential travel segments such as cruising are gaining traction, with strong interest in sailings across Asia, including the upcoming Disney Adventure from Singapore, which is driving demand among Indian families seeking immersive cruise holidays."

As a corollary, travel to Europe and the UK, typically including a halt in West Asia, has become more expensive, leading to players like SOTC and Thomas Cook offering discounts and deals for the upcoming summer travel season.

"On the domestic tourism front, while business travel remains largely unaffected, leisure travel is likely to start picking up now as the summer season kicks in and the exam season coming to an end," Magow added.

"We are also seeing a behavioural trend where some travellers are postponing international trips in the near term and opting for domestic travel instead," CoTrav's Sah added.

Thomas Cook's Kale concurred with the trend, adding that domestic favourites such Himachal Pradesh, Andamans and Kerala are also witnessing growing interest.

"India's spiritual destinations are also witnessing renewed relevance with interest for spiritual circuits such as Char Dham and Kailash Mansarovar," he said.

India Travel Shift