Spiraling oil and consumer goods prices, high airfares, chaotic law and order situations in native countries, are among some reasons that have prompted many expatriates to shelve their travel plans this year. Despite this year's summer vacation stretching over 3 months, up till September, most South-Asian expatriates are on the lookout for wiser holiday options. Meanwhile, airlines blame rising jet fuel prices for the increase in air fares. “The cost of air tickets in itself has not increased but due to the inflation in international fuel prices, the taxes have increased making the fare package expensive,” Farhan Imtiaz, a travel agent said. “Since many companies sponsor their employees, a difference of only 10 percent has been noticed among those who sponsor their own fares,” Inaam Ur Rahman of Al-Rajhi Aviation for tours and travel said. “Traveling has become difficult this time. Air fares have increased, and child fares have gone up from 67 percent last year to 75 percent now,” Gazala Rasheed, a Pakistani expatriate mother of four children, said. She said her children's health, soaring food prices, and power failures in Pakistan, have made her to re-think visiting Pakistan this year. “We have, in fact, decided to invite our parents here for Umrah,” she added. South Asia like the rest of the world is facing heightened peaks of inflation. Latest figures issued by Pakistan's Federal Bureau of Statistics indicate that inflation has jumped over to a 30-year high at the rate of 31 percent A statement by the Government of India last month, reported an inflation of 11.63 percent, the highest in the past 13 years. “With a family of six members, it has always been financially difficult for us to travel. And because the cost of living is increasing globally, we have chalked a more viable holiday plan to visit the tourist spots across the Kingdom,” Nafees Un Nisa, a Bangladeshi expatriate said.” This way we will spend quality time together, while also saving money,” she said. Political instability in home countries is another factor. Pakistan is reeling under the recent suicidal attacks in Islamabad on July 6, killing 19 people and injuring more than 40 and seven consequent explosions in Karachi on July 7. The civil war led by Tamil Tigers is an ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka. Thirty four Tamil Tigers were killed on July 14, by military in fresh clashes. There have been flood conditions and land sliding in Bangladesh. Activities by terrorists and separatists groups are reported now and then in Phillipines. The Abu Sayyaf, a terror group in the South held hostage four power utility employees for 15 days demanding a ransom of one million pesos. They were freed on July 10. “I don't want to go to Sri Lanka as its unsafe there after the suicidal bombings by terrorist groups,” Muhammad Irshad, a Sri Lankan expatriate said. “It was a terrible experience for me to take my two kids to Pakistan. They got severely sick there, add to that long power cuts, water problems, unsafe conditions and traffic jams,” Farheen Fasih, another Pakistani expatriate said. She said that, instead, they are calling their parents-in-law here. For some like Shahida Shahid, an Indian expatriate, fluctuations in prices or depressive law and order situations don't bother. She prefers staying back in the Kingdom. “Life here is very comfortable. There's nothing like ones own home,” she said. Shahida suggests that people sensitive to matters like inflation, safety insecurity, power cuts and so on, can stay back to discover the Kingdom. __
