Now people are experiencing luxury cruises in India:Preferences changed from Gangtok to Europe’ impact of war changed tourist preferences

Due to the ongoing war between Israel-US and Iran and global tensions, India is witnessing a major shift in travelers’ preferences. On one hand, people are prioritizing domestic tourist destinations like Gangtok, Goa, Kerala, and Darjeeling. Meanwhile, at the international level, there has been a surge in bookings for Europe and South Africa. The main reason behind this is the instability created by the war and increased concerns about security. Destinations that were not very popular earlier are now rapidly becoming travelers’ favorites. Travel agency owner Rohit Khurana stated that this season, around 200 to 300 advance bookings have been made for European countries like Italy, France, Switzerland, and Finland. Similarly, 40 to 50 bookings have been made for South Africa. In contrast, tourism in Middle Eastern countries has suffered a major setback. Domestic Tourism Gets a Boost People used to prefer going to Dubai to experience luxury cruises, but now considering safety and expenses, cruise travel within the country is being prioritized. Due to lower costs, easy accessibility, and a secure environment, people now prefer to experience luxury cruises within the country instead of Dubai. They are making advance bookings for Goa, Mumbai, and Kerala. Experts believe that until the global situation normalizes, domestic tourism will continue to receive a boost. Air travel became expensive due to war The war has also impacted air travel. Previously, flight tickets to Europe were available for ₹60,000 to ₹70,000, but now they have increased to up to ₹1.20 lakh. Keeping passenger safety in mind, airlines have changed their routes. Earlier, flights used to go via Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but now direct routes are being adopted, which has increased the fares.