Ranchi: The ongoing West Asia conflict is reshaping travel destinations during summer vacations, with families from the city avoiding international destinations amid safety concerns and rising costs. Travel operators reported a noticeable shift toward domestic destinations, leading to a surge in bookings for hill stations and coastal areas.Industry insiders said the uncertainty surrounding global travel has affected outbound tourism.“We are facing a crunch as we lost tourists bound for European and Gulf destinations. Only places like Bali, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia have somewhat saved international tours,” said travel agent Chamandeep Singh Gagan.He added that the downturn in international bookings has contributed to a rise in demand for domestic destinations.Popular domestic destinations such as Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya, Shimla and Mussoorie are witnessing increased footfall. While hill stations typically see increased tourist activity during summer, this year the numbers have surged further, pushing up travel costs.Tour operators reported a sharp rise in package prices. Premium Kashmir packages, which earlier cost around Rs 83,000 per person, are now touching Rs 1 lakh or above. Even budget packages have increased from around Rs 45,000 to Rs 55,000 per person, largely due to higher airfares and accommodation costs.Another travel agent, Anuradha Chaudhary, highlighted growing apprehension among travellers. “People are not even opting for international trips because they are scared about the war,” she said.Pratik Jain, another travel agent, echoed similar concerns. “Anyone who wants to travel abroad has safety concerns and is not ready to go, regardless of age,” he said.Chaudhary added that domestic destinations like Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir are currently the most preferred.However, rising costs are also forcing some families to reconsider plans. Suresh Kumar, a resident of Hatia, who planned a family trip to Kashmir, said, “Due to increasing airfares, hotel rates and food expenses, the trip is beyond our budget. Train travel is still an option, but package tours are very expensive.”