With the US-Iran conflict intensifying, its impact is increasingly being felt on inbound wellness travel from the Middle East to India. The tensions have disrupted international flight connectivity between the region and India, leading to cancellations, rerouted services and uncertainty in travel schedules.
Abhilash Ramesh, executive director of Kairali Ayurvedic Group, shared: “We regularly receive guests from the Middle East, with the UAE accounting for the largest share, followed by Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Over the next two weeks, we were expecting eight arrivals, three directly from the Middle East and five travelling via the region. While the three guests arriving directly from the Middle East have cancelled their trips, those travelling via the region may still reroute their journeys. Their plans are currently uncertain, and we are awaiting final communication from them.”
Ramesh also expects future enquiries to be affected due to travel restrictions, higher airfares and the limited availability of flights.
Sandeep Arora, director of Brightsun Travel, noted: “Yes, there has been a slight short-term impact on wellness bookings due to travel uncertainty and flight disruptions in the Middle East region. Some international travellers are postponing or reviewing their travel plans. However, interest in wellness retreats in India remains strong, especially from domestic travellers and neighbouring Asian markets.”
The Middle East has also been one of the most consistent source regions for India’s medical travel sector for many years. Patients from markets such as the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have traditionally travelled to India for specialised treatments, particularly in areas such as cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics and complex surgeries. However, industry stakeholders say the segment remains relatively insulated from the current geopolitical developments.
“In medical travel, demand tends to behave differently from leisure tourism during periods of geopolitical uncertainty. In situations like the current tensions in the region, what we typically observe is a short-term pause or adjustment in travel timelines rather than a sharp drop in demand. Patients planning elective procedures may wait briefly until the situation becomes clearer, but those requiring treatment generally proceed once logistics such as flights and visas remain workable,” said Ishaan Dodhiwala, co-founder of Medijourn Solutions.
