Rising demand for short-haul travel: Indian tourists flock to Southeast Asia amid geopolitical tensions
Southeast Asian destinations are seeing a surge in popularity among Indian travelers, driven by affordable airfares, easy visa policies, and strong tourism infrastructure. Bookings to countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines have rise...
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In contrast to long-haul travel, which has seen some softening amid geopolitical tensions since summer, short-haul, easy-to-access destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal have remained relatively unaffected and continue to attract interest from Indian travellers, travel companies said.
"While travellers have considered delaying or postponing plans, Southeast Asia has emerged as a go-to destination for those seeking familiar experiences. Countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines have seen a 50% rise in bookings compared to last year," said Manjari Singhal, chief growth and business officer at Cleartrip. “Additionally, airfares to Vietnam and Indonesia have dropped, making these destinations more accessible for budget conscious holidaymakers,” she added.
The benefit of visa free or easy visa entry has only served to fuel demand from late booker segments for Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia, Mauritius and Seychelles, said Neeraj Singh Dev, executive vice president and head, e commerce, and domestic and short haul holidays at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel. "Our pipeline post reopening of schools shows continued momentum from the young professionals segment, especially for weekends and extended weekends,” he added.
Affordable flight fares, attractive discounts on five star hotels in Bangkok and Koh Samui this month and Thailand’s no visa policy led to Shivansh Kalra booking a holiday to Thailand this month. “Flight fares were reasonably priced, there was no hassle of visa appointments and we got great discounts on some very luxurious hotels,” he added.
Countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore continue to be popular among Indian travellers, thanks to their strong tourism infrastructure, cultural appeal, and ease of connectivity, said Bharat Malik, senior VP, flights and hotel business at Yatra Online.
“These destinations have remained stable and unaffected by the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, making them a preferred choice at this time,” he said. “Temporary airspace restrictions impacted certain long-haul routes, and flight durations increased by 2–4 hours due to rerouting of flights. Airfares rose by nearly 15–20% on certain routes. This has naturally shifted traveller interest towards more cost-effective and shorter routes,” he added.
Bookings from India remain steady at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, said commercial director Amjad Thaufeeg. “Maldives is still one of the top choices for Indian guests looking for a quick luxurious getaway and we have seen that demand stay consistent, especially from couples and families,” he said. “We are also seeing advance bookings for the upcoming festive seasons, and many guests are booking earlier to secure their preferred villas and experiences,” he added.
"While travellers have considered delaying or postponing plans, Southeast Asia has emerged as a go-to destination for those seeking familiar experiences. Countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines have seen a 50% rise in bookings compared to last year," said Manjari Singhal, chief growth and business officer at Cleartrip. “Additionally, airfares to Vietnam and Indonesia have dropped, making these destinations more accessible for budget conscious holidaymakers,” she added.
The benefit of visa free or easy visa entry has only served to fuel demand from late booker segments for Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia, Mauritius and Seychelles, said Neeraj Singh Dev, executive vice president and head, e commerce, and domestic and short haul holidays at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel. "Our pipeline post reopening of schools shows continued momentum from the young professionals segment, especially for weekends and extended weekends,” he added.
Affordable flight fares, attractive discounts on five star hotels in Bangkok and Koh Samui this month and Thailand’s no visa policy led to Shivansh Kalra booking a holiday to Thailand this month. “Flight fares were reasonably priced, there was no hassle of visa appointments and we got great discounts on some very luxurious hotels,” he added.
Countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore continue to be popular among Indian travellers, thanks to their strong tourism infrastructure, cultural appeal, and ease of connectivity, said Bharat Malik, senior VP, flights and hotel business at Yatra Online.
“These destinations have remained stable and unaffected by the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, making them a preferred choice at this time,” he said. “Temporary airspace restrictions impacted certain long-haul routes, and flight durations increased by 2–4 hours due to rerouting of flights. Airfares rose by nearly 15–20% on certain routes. This has naturally shifted traveller interest towards more cost-effective and shorter routes,” he added.
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Bookings from India remain steady at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, said commercial director Amjad Thaufeeg. “Maldives is still one of the top choices for Indian guests looking for a quick luxurious getaway and we have seen that demand stay consistent, especially from couples and families,” he said. “We are also seeing advance bookings for the upcoming festive seasons, and many guests are booking earlier to secure their preferred villas and experiences,” he added.
Visa-on-Arrival: Indians can obtain a visa on arrival for up to 15 days.
Itinerary (5 Days)
Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok. Visit the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun.
Day 2: Explore Chatuchak Market and take a boat tour along the Chao Phraya River.
Day 3: Travel to Pattaya. Relax on the beaches, visit the Sanctuary of Truth.
Day 4: Visit Nong Nooch Tropical Garden and explore the nightlife in Pattaya.
Day 5: Return to Bangkok, shop at MBK Center, and depart.
Cost Estimate:
Flights: Rs 15,000-Rs 25,000 (Round trip)
Accommodation: Rs 1,500-Rs 3,500 per night (Budget)
Meals: Rs 1,000-Rs 2,500 per day
Local transport: Rs 1,000-Rs 2,000 per day
Total: Rs 40,000-Rs 50,000
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