The trend has been in the works. More travellers now prefer to travel to Asian sub-continent for leisure & business from Kuwait and Gulf. Reasons being the quality of life & travelling experience, good currency conversions and more business opportunities. This week two major carriers Thai and Singapore have opened 4-5 flights per week from Kuwait to Singapore & Bangkok. From India airlines like Jet Airways and Kingfisher [not yet started] are planning new routes to-fro Kuwait. Lot of these airlines fly via Dubai to get additional traffic. But that is a minor glitch in the overall travel plans.

Overall Europe & Americas are not so lucrative to travellers anymore. Reason being travelling to these destination is more expensive, visa rules are rigid, and of course the economic meltdown means lesser business opportunities. Moreover shoppers find much more varieties at better quality and cheaper prices in Asian sub-continent, because most of the stuff available in Asian markets is being shipped out to European / US markets comes from these countries and there are already quality standards applied. Travellers are more wary of where they put their money and how much they fork out. Expensive shopping is out smart shopping is in and so is travelling.

Asia offers exotic travel destination and climate that tunes with weather pattern in Gulf region. So people can enjoy travelling during summer breaks from Gulf region. Food is also someting that is more tuned to Gulf travellers taste. If all goes well this year then I am on my way to exploring the exotic Asian destinations myself.