The ongoing political turmoil in the Maldives has instilled apprehensions in the mind of tourists amidst the warnings of tourism and external affairs ministers against travelling to this places, even though the Maldivian government has issued a statement that the peninsula is safe for tourists.

Taking stock of the situation, SpiceJet and Air India, too, cooperated with the passengers by approving ticket change and cancellation costs for airlines scheduled to visit the Maldives and vice-versa.

This tumultuous times in the Maldives although has disrupted tourism in the Maldives but has helped tourism in other countries to take advantage of the situation.

According to the travel and tour agencies, in the last 15 days, the Maldivian political crisis has resulted in 20 to 40 percent rise in bookings to the other aforementioned beach places in Asia.

According to press reports, Phuket and Malaysia have noted a surge of 20 percent and more in booking from tourists, and places like Kathmandu in Nepal and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia are enjoying 7 to 10 percent of the pie due to the unforeseen developments in the Maldives.

Being a preferred honeymoon destination and the fact that the wedding season is on in India now, a lot of to-be-hitched couples had planned their visit to this isle nation. However, now they are choosing other places over the Maldives as per the reports.

Here is where to go if you have booked the Maldives and have cancelled your plans

‘Sri Lanka, a site Sinhalese civilization, beaches and monuments

Sri Lanka packs an extraordinary variety of places to visit within its modest physical dimensions, and few islands of comparable size can boast a natural environment of such beauty and diversity. Lapped by the Indian Ocean, the coast is fringed with idyllic – and often refreshingly undeveloped – beaches, while the interior boasts a compelling variety of landscapes ranging from wildlife-rich lowland jungles, home to extensive populations of elephants, leopards and rare endemic bird species, to the misty heights of the hill country, swathed in immaculately manicured tea plantations. Nor does the island lack in man-made attractions. Sri Lanka boasts more than two thousand years of recorded history, and the remarkable achievements of the early Sinhalese civilization can still be seen in the sequence of ruined cities and great religious monuments that litter the northern plains.

The African neighbour Island of Seychelles

Located miles east of Kenya and north of Madagascar, suspended somewhere in the Indian Ocean is a 115-island archipelago so beautiful, early British explorers thought they had stumbled upon the Garden of Eden.  There`s more to Seychelles than pristine beaches and water so clear, you never lose sight of your feet. In addition to unabashed natural beauty and wildlife, the main island of Mahé, where the capital Victoria is located, boasts beautiful French and British colonial architecture. And that`s to say nothing of the incredible seafood and incredible resorts.

Phuket Island, the brightest diamond in Thailand’s string of islands

Phuket, the Pearl of the Andaman, is Thailand’s largest island, with a curvaceous coastline of wide sugary beaches strung between jutting peninsulas and craggy rock formations. You can go on a tour to visit some beautiful viewpoints, temples, markets and just discover more of this island. Phuket’s beach scene is also undergoing something of a revival, with swanky new hotels and beach clubs popping up along the west coast.