South Asia witnessed one of the strongest shifts in travel demand after the escalation of the Middle East conflict in February 2026, according to the Tourism in Focus report by Sojern and PATA. International flight search volumes from the region surged by more than 150 per cent in the days following the crisis. The report attributes the trend to South Asia’s deep economic and human ties with the Middle East, including large migrant worker and expatriate populations.
Janice Alyosius is a travel and MICE journalist focusing on business travel, destination marketing, aviation and industry policy. She leads editorial content at MICEtalk and also writes for TravTalk, covering global trends, trade developments and key industry conversations. With regular reporting from tourism forums, conventions and on-ground industry events, her work blends news-led analysis with strong industry voices, offering clear context and relevance for travel trade professionals and decision-makers.
