Amid safety fears, rising costs, travellers drop Dubai, Abu Dhabi for Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka

Mohsin Usmani

Lucknow: City residents are reworking their summer vacation plans as tensions linked to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war have reshaped travel preferences, with South and Southeast Asian destinations seeing a sharp rise in demand due to perceptions of safety, affordability and smoother connectivity.

Travel operators in the city said bookings for Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bali, Nepal and the Maldives have increased in recent weeks as travellers avoid destinations affected by uncertainty in West Asia. Concerns over possible flight disruptions, changing airline schedules and rising travel insurance premiums have further accelerated the shift.

“With rising travel costs and uncertainty around parts of the Middle East and West Asia, many tourists are shifting their plans,” said Rohit Khanna.

Travel company owner Muhammad Fuzail said Southeast Asian destinations are drawing stronger interest than Europe or West Asia because they remain budget-friendly and are well-connected by air. “Compared to Europe or West Asia, Southeast Asian destinations like Thailand, Vietnam and Bali are witnessing strong demand because they are affordable and well-connected,” he said.

According to tour operators, a four-day, five-night trip to Vietnam for two currently costs around Rs 90,000, while a Thailand package covering Bangkok and Pattaya is priced at nearly Rs 1 lakh. A Sri Lanka holiday is available for around Rs 80,000, making it especially attractive for middle-income travellers during the summer break.

By contrast, travel to West Asian destinations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi has become significantly more expensive. Operators said package costs for two people, which were around Rs 1.5 lakh earlier, have climbed to nearly Rs 2.30 lakh over the past two months, largely due to higher airfares and regional instability.

“We changed our Dubai trip to Sri Lanka because we wanted a relaxed holiday without uncertainty,” said traveller Anam Fatima. Shivam Srivastava said his family also altered plans. “We shifted our travel plans from Abu Dhabi to Vietnam as it felt safer and more convenient this summer. We were looking for a destination where flights and local travel would remain smooth,” he said.

Nepal has also emerged as a preferred option, with Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara recording increased bookings because of easy access, lower costs and visa-free entry for Indians. Religious circuits linked to Pashupatinath Temple and Muktinath are also attracting visitors, said travel agency owner Raunak Vishwas.

Within India, travellers are seeking information on budget and safety for hill destinations in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, as well as beach locations such as Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and the northeastern states. Tour operators added that Jammu and Kashmir is also drawing enquiries despite lingering security concerns after last year’s Pahalgam incident.