Holidaymakers forgo J&K, Ladakh, Himachal, go for South-East Asia amid border tension
KOLKATA: As tensions simmer along India's northern borders, a wave of cancellations is sweeping through once-popular summer destinations like Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
In their place, countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore are becoming the unexpected winners of this year's travel season.
Travel agents across Kolkata report a surge in interest for international vacations, leading to flight prices to South-East Asia climbing steadily. The shift follows mounting security concerns and temporary airport shutdowns in the northern states - factors that have turned the spotlight away from the snow-clad Himalayas toward tropical beaches and bustling Asian cities.
Operation Sindoor
India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan
India-Pakistan tensions: Delhi airport issues travel advisory
Operation Sindoor: Multiple explosions heard at several Pakistan air bases
"We are asking travellers to remain cautious and avoid the mountains in north India for the time being. Since Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh tour packages are pretty expensive, we are offering them foreign tours in almost the same money," said Anil Punjabi, national committee member (East) Travel Agents Federation of India.
Manav Soni of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) added that they were also asking tourists to avoid the usual summer hot spots in north India and choose safer destinations in India and abroad.
India has shut down 27 airports across its northern, western, and central regions, causing widespread flight disruptions and travel concerns. From Kolkata, domestic flights from cities including Amritsar, Hindon, Chandigarh, and Srinagar were cancelled, alongside a few international services from Bangladesh's Chittagong and Dhaka.
Kolkata's air traffic control has also revised its flight management strategies in response to restrictions over Pakistan's airspace, mirroring changes made by other ATCs across the country.
Tour operators report growing anxiety among passengers as cancellations, diversions, and even citywide blackouts have thrown travel plans into disarray leading to the mood among Indian travellers change dramatically in just a few days.
Once eager to explore the cool serenity of the mountains, tourists are now prioritising stability, security - and in many cases, foreign experiences. To stay ahead of the demand, travel agencies are pre-booking tickets to destinations like Bali and Bangkok, locking in rates before they surge further.
For Aroon Sahani from Tangra, the change was bittersweet. He and 14 others planned an elaborate eight-day journey through Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonmarg. Now, they are swapping pine forests for palm trees, heading to Bali on May 17.
"This would be my first trip to Kashmir," said Sahani. "All three families in our group were excited. But this just doesn't feel like the right time. We're proud of India standing firm, but we would rather not take risks. Bali felt like the perfect alternative - same cost but different vibe." Abhishek Gupta from Ekbalpore faced a similar dilemma. His Ladakh trip, set for late May, was scrapped when news broke about the temporary airport closure and heightened border conflict.
Now, he is off to Thailand. "I had been to Thailand before, but this will be the first foreign holiday for my wife and son," Gupta said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
41 minutes ago
- Mint
Air India plane crash: Over 1,000 Dreamliners in the skies — how many are with Tata Group airline and IndiGo?
Air India plane crash: Tata Group-owned Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner went down on Thursday near Ahmedabad airport shortly after takeoff. The tragic crash, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers on board, was the first time that the wide-body jet suffered a fatal accident. There are 1,148 Boeing 787 variants currently in service. Air India and IndiGo are the two Indian airlines operating the B787 planes. As of 2025, Air India operates 34 Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet. Budget airline IndiGo has six wide-body aircraft on damp lease from Norse Atlantic, including two added under an agreement signed in May 2025, reported Reuters. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft that plunged into a deadly crash in Gujarat's Ahmedabad was 11.5 years old and had flown for more than 41,000 hours, reported PTI, citing aviation analytics firm Cirium. It was delivered to Air India on January 28, 2014. "The aircraft had 18 business class seats and 238 economy class seats. It had more than 41,000 hours of flying time, and almost 8,000 takeoffs and landings, including some 700 cycles in the past 12 months. This is average for that aircraft build year/period," stated Cirium. Of the 34 Boeing 787s in Air India's fleet, 27 are older B787-8 aircraft. The first of these legacy jets is scheduled for retrofit in July. The remaining seven, newer B787-9s, were added to the fleet following last year's merger with Vistara. Air India faced issues with its Dreamliner fleet back in 2013 due to battery malfunctions. The problems led the then government-owned airline to temporarily ground its six Boeing 787 aircraft. Boeing later compensated Air India for the disruptions caused by the technical faults. Designed for long-haul air travel, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was first introduced into commercial service in 2011 by Japan's All Nippon Airways. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner comes in three variants, each tailored for different passenger capacities and flight ranges: 787-8: Can carry up to 248 passengers and offers a range of 13,530 km. 787-9: Accommodates up to 296 passengers with a longer range of 14,010 km. 787-10: The largest of the trio, carrying up to 330 passengers, with a range of 11,910 km. As per Boeing, the 787 Dreamliner stands out for its lightweight body, quieter take-offs and landings.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Airspace squeeze deepens for Indian airlines amid West Asia crisis
International operations of Indian airlines were thrown into disarray on Friday after Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel closed their airspace on Friday, dealing a severe blow to carriers already grappling with Pakistan's ongoing airspace ban following India's Operation Sindoor last month. These restrictions have narrowed westbound corridors drastically, forcing significant detours, delays, cancellations, and flight recalls, particularly affecting routes to Europe and North America. The Iranian closure came in response to Israel's large-scale military offensive — Operation Rising Lion — targeting nuclear and defense installations across Iran. Iran sealed its airspace, citing security concerns. Iraq, Jordan, and Israel followed suit, escalating the disruption. For Indian airlines, the detour requirements have become significantly longer, leading to increased fuel costs, tight crew rotations, and additional logistical complications. On Friday, IndiGo — India's largest airline — issued a public advisory noting that some of its services may experience longer flight times or cancellations due to airspace closures over Iran and nearby regions. 'Please check your flight status on our website or app before heading to the airport,' the airline said on X. The situation was far more acute for Air India, which had to recall or reroute at least 16 international flights, less than 24 hours after suffering one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian history. The fatal crash of AI171 flight in Ahmedabad on Thursday killed 241 passengers and crew and left just one survivor, deepening the airline's ongoing crisis. Air India confirmed on X that multiple transatlantic and Europe-bound flights were impacted. Flight AI130 from London Heathrow to Mumbai was diverted to Vienna, while AI102 from New York to Delhi landed in Sharjah. Another New York service, AI116 to Mumbai, was rerouted to Jeddah. Flight AI2018 from London to Delhi had to be brought down in Mumbai, and AI-106 from Newark to Delhi was diverted to Vienna. Outbound flights faced equally serious complications. AI129 from Mumbai to London and AI119 from Mumbai to New York both returned to Mumbai. From Delhi, AI103 to Washington DC and AI189 to Toronto were recalled after departure. Meanwhile, AI188 from Vancouver to Delhi was sent to Jeddah, and AI101 from Delhi to New York was rerouted to either Frankfurt or Milan depending on prevailing airspace conditions. AI126 from Chicago to Delhi also had to land in Jeddah. Flight AI132 from London to Bengaluru was diverted to Sharjah. Two other flights — AI2016 from London and AI104 from Washington to Delhi -- were both rerouted to Vienna. AI190 from Toronto to Delhi was diverted to Frankfurt. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience and said passengers on affected flights were being offered complimentary rescheduling or full refunds. 'Alternative arrangements are being made to fly passengers to their destinations,' the airline said, adding that it was providing hotel accommodation where necessary to minimise disruption.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Off-season fades from India's travel scene amid flexible work, breaks
Long weekends, hybrid work flexibility driving this shift Akshara Srivastava Gulveen Aulakh New Delhi Listen to This Article The traditional concept of the 'off season' is rapidly becoming obsolete, as Indian travellers are no longer restricting their getaways to summer or winter holidays. Instead, they're seizing every opportunity — weekends, long breaks, and even workcations — to pack their bags and travel. Long weekends spread across the year, Gen Z seeking spontaneous experiences, and hybrid work flexibility are driving this shift to such an extent that destinations once considered seasonal like Goa, Corbett, Ooty, Dharamshala, Haridwar, and Manali. 'While the Goan off season typically begins from April 1 and goes on till October 31, we have started to
