The upcoming long Independence Day weekend is proving to be the perfect opportunity for a mid-year breather, industry data shows.
The long weekend begins on August 15, which falls on a Thursday, and lasts until Rakshabandhan on August 19 – five days – and offers the perfect opportunity for a longer getaway.
While flight prices are rising rapidly on all major routes, hotels in holiday destinations are also experiencing a booking boom.
According to travel platform Cleartrip, the most popular domestic destinations include Pondicherry, where hotel bookings have increased by 760 percent, followed by Udaipur with an increase of 441 percent and Munnar in Kerala with an increase of 321 percent.
“So far, over 15,000 flight bookings have been made for the long weekend, an increase of 37 percent compared to a typical weekend,” said a spokesperson for the platform.
In Goa, the number of bookings has now increased by 166 percent.
“As the monsoon season increases the appeal of travel, long weekends prove to be a perfect opportunity for travelers to take a short break and for the industry to capitalize on the increased demand. At Radisson Hotel Group, we are witnessing a year-on-year increase in demand for resorts and hotels of almost 20 percent and we expect this trend to continue to accelerate,” said Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and Senior Vice President, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.
For the group, destinations such as Kumbhalgarh, Saputara, Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram as well as Udaipur, Jaipur and Agra are the most popular among travelers.
“Guests prefer a mix of luxury and mid-range accommodation for their 3-5 day stays. In addition, our guests are willing to spend 20 percent more on hotels than in previous years. This increase in bookings across our entire portfolio is promising,” added Sharma.
The luxurious Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur is offering an extended weekend package that includes complimentary drinks and cultural soirees for guests. The package offers 20 percent discount on various amenities, including food.
According to ixigo, not only domestic but also nearby international destinations are now enjoying great interest among travelers.
“Indians are gearing up for their next vacation this coming August long weekend, which sees Independence Day and Rakshabandhan falling back to back. International travel is on the rise, thanks to visa-free travel and affordable fares. Popular destinations like Bali, Thailand, Kuwait and Singapore have seen a 60-70 percent year-on-year increase in bookings, while new, trendy short-haul destinations like Azerbaijan, Georgia and Vietnam are becoming increasingly popular among Indian travelers,” said Aloke Bajpai, Chairman, MD and Group CEO, ixigo.
First published: August 12, 2024 | 5:33 p.m. IS
