New Delhi: Many Indian tourists plan to travel during the peak summer season, and as the War in West Asia is escalating, the travellers are making changes in the way they travel and reshaping to choose where to go, with more travellers now turning to closer international destinations and exploring options outside India.
As per the recent report by Ixigo, there has been a shift in travel preferences of Indian over the past few weeks. Instead of long-haul trips or routes involving affected regions, travellers are increasingly shifting towards destinations which feel closer to come back or more predictable.
Why are people rethinking travel in 2026
The travel agencies are noticing this sudden shift in the behaviour of people to choose their destination is a result of flight disruptions and airspace restrictions in the Middle East. Such uncertainties have made travellers rethink their plans and prepare fresh itineraries, especially for those travelling internationally.
Short, smooth and easy to reach destinations near India are becoming the new favourite, which have minimal chances of last-minute changes. Familiar routes or shorter distances which are easy to reach are gaining a lot of attention.
Asia sees a surge in travel
Asia is witnessing a major surge in travel interest this month, with Vietnam leading the trend and showing a remarkable 130 per cent rise in bookings compared to last year. Other nearby countries are also gaining traction—Nepal has seen an 88 per cent increase, while Sri Lanka is up by 68 per cent.
Travellers continue to favour popular Southeast Asian hotspots such as Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, all of which are maintaining steady demand. Overall, this shift reflects a growing preference for short-haul international trips that offer quick travel time and easy, manageable itineraries.
Domestic destinations gain highlight
Domestic travel is also experiencing strong momentum, with more people opting for vacations within the country. Destinations like Udaipur have recorded a remarkable 69 per cent rise in bookings, followed by notable increases in Jodhpur (47 per cent), Bagdogra (44 per cent), Srinagar (41 per cent), and Agartala (38 per cent).
Meanwhile, popular favourites such as Goa and Dehradun continue to draw consistent traveller interest. This shows that while people are eager to discover new places, they also enjoy revisiting beloved holiday spots.