



Rich Indians dump Europe for luxury local travel amid war pangs
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.New Delhi: The US-Iran war has crimped energy supplies, raised fuel prices, threatens to spike India’s import bill and thus strain its foreign exchange reserves. It was in this context that Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens on Sunday to cut fuel use, avoid unnecessary overseas travel and explore domestic destinations instead.For some affluent Indian travellers, that shift is already underway—India's premium domestic destinations are seeing stronger demand, higher occupancies and rising room tariffs this summer.A Delhi-based family of nine abandoned their usual summer plan of a European holiday as business class tickets surged past ₹5 lakh a seat on some key routes, nearly double the typical fares.
Moreover, airports across West Asia were facing fresh disruption risks, and even the major transit hubs had begun to feel unpredictable.So, their plan was flipped. Instead of Tuscany or Switzerland, the family will now check into a luxury waterfront resort in Kochi in June, opting for private backwater cruises, ayurvedic wellness therapies and villa stays along Kerala’s coast—the kind of high-end leisure experiences India’s luxury hotel industry increasingly believes can persuade affluent travellers to stay closer home.Luxury domestic leisure travel is seeing a sharp surge this summer, as geopolitical tensions, soaring international airfares and disrupted aviation routes push affluent Indian travellers towards premium destinations within India and nearby Asian markets, according to hotel operators and travel companies.Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan and hill destinations are witnessing stronger-than-expected demand, while neighbouring markets such as Bhutan, Thailand and Vietnam are
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