One Indian Industry Is Quietly Gaining From The US-Iran War And You Are Part Of It Too

Last Updated:March 26, 2026, 09:44 IST

With large parts of West Asian airspace  effectively shut, many Indian travellers planning summer holidays abroad are now turning to destinations closer home

Several local industries in India are reeling under the ripple effects of the ongoing West Asia war, but one sector appears to be benefiting from the geopolitical disruption — domestic tourism. With large parts of West Asian airspace  — a key corridor for flights to North America and Europe — effectively shut, many Indian travellers planning summer holidays abroad are now turning to destinations closer home.

Travel platforms are reporting a surge in searches for popular hill and leisure destinations such as Ladakh, Rishikesh, Shimla, Kullu-Manali and Shillong, as travellers look for cooler getaways in the coming months.

A report in Moneycontrol cited travel booking platform WanderOn as saying that nearly 65% of travellers are now exploring domestic options.

“Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a noticeable shift in travel sentiment, with a strong preference for domestic getaways and short stays," WanderOn CEO Govind Gaur said. He added that destinations in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, and cooler regions of the Northeast have witnessed up to a 30% increase in interest and bookings.

This shift is also being reflected in changing travel behaviour. Industry players say travellers are increasingly opting for shorter trips, flexible itineraries and budget-conscious bookings, while many are making last-minute plans instead of committing to long-haul international travel amid uncertainty.

The trend is also extending to spiritual tourism, with around 23% of millennial enquiries focused on destinations such as Rishikesh, he noted.

To cater to this demand, platforms like WanderOn are curating customised packages that combine adventure, wellness and offbeat travel, including destinations such as Chopta and Spiti Valley.

The Moneycontrol report further highlighted strong booking growth across several cities. Udaipur has recorded a 69% year-on-year increase in bookings, followed by Jodhpur at 47%. Travel to Bagdogra is up 44%, Srinagar 41%, and Agartala 38%.

At the same time, international travel demand has not disappeared entirely, but is shifting closer to home. According to travel booking platform ixigo, destinations such as Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand are witnessing strong interest.

“We’re now seeing a tilt toward Southeast Asia and domestic destinations amid ongoing disruptions," ixigo co-founder and CEO Aloke Bajpai said.

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