Indian travellers show reduced interest in Europe holidays amid visa delays and other factors

France, Italy, Spain and other European destinations face weaker bookings as visa issues and other factors influence travel plans.

Edited by Sandeep Gupta, Editor · SafarSamachar Desk✔ Approved by Sandeep Gupta14 Nov 2026, 5:22 pm IST

Illustration

Illustration: SafarSamachar Pix Desk, created with AI assistance. Not a photograph of the event.

Key facts at a glance

1Schengen visa delays and other factors influence travel decisions
2Flight disruptions from Middle East airspace restrictions impact Europe travel
3Paris hotels show weaker booking momentum compared to last year
4A day of rioting in central Paris led to cancellations equivalent to around 1% of monthly hotel bookings

Indian travellers are showing reduced interest in Western and Southern Europe, according to The Economic Times. France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland are among the affected destinations.

The decline in interest is influenced by a combination of factors, including Schengen visa appointment delays, currency fluctuations and flight disruptions arising from Middle East airspace restrictions. Travellers remain cautious about multi-country itineraries in the region.

Paris hotels have shown weaker booking momentum compared to last year, with the booking advantage narrowing from 1 percentage point to 0.2 percentage points within 24 hours. A day of rioting in central Paris led to cancellations equivalent to around 1% of monthly hotel bookings.

If protests continue for several months, the impact on French tourism could be catastrophic, according to the report.

What this means for Indian travellers

If you're considering a European holiday this winter, monitor visa processing times and other factors that may influence travel plans. Consider alternative destinations or flexible travel dates.

Sources

This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and read and approved for publication by Sandeep Gupta on 14 Nov 2026; the figures come from the reports listed above. Read our editorial policy.Rules and schedules change - confirm with the airline or embassy before you travel. Spotted an error? Tell us.