Indian tourists flock to Southeast Asia

New Delhi: Short-haul destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal continue to see steady demand Indian travellers even as long-haul travel has slowed amid geopolitical tensions, 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," said Manjari Singhal, chief growth and business officer at Cleartrip.The booking platform has seen a 50% year-on-year rise in bookings to countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines this summer season compared to last year. "Additionally, airfares to Vietnam and Indonesia have dropped, making these destinations more accessible for budget conscious holidaymakers," she added.And the spike in demand is continuing even after the end of summer vacation. 122146493"Our pipeline post reopening of schools shows continued momentum from the young professionals segment, especially for weekends and extended weekends," said Neeraj Singh Dev, executive vice president and head, ecommerce, and domestic and short haul holidays, at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel.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, Indonesia, Mauritius and Seychelles, he said.Affordable flight fares and steep discounts on accommodation are adding to the attraction in many destinations. "Flight fares were reasonably priced, there was no hassle of visa appointments and we got great discounts on some very luxurious hotels (in Bangkok and Koh Samui)," said Shivansh Kalra, a Delhi resident, who booked a holiday to Thailand this month.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, according to 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.

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