Two consecutive extended weekends this month offer vacationers exciting spring break options. Going by the booking trends, the mountain destinations are in high demand even before the summer, pushing up the flight prices to the mountains.
With Holi on March 25 and Good Friday March 29, those who can take a leave for the three days in between can enjoy a nine-day break.
COLD CLIMATE CALLING VACATIONERS
Data from travel portals show an increase in tourist spots in the Himalayas. “Popular destinations for the upcoming long weekends include Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand. There is also an increase in interest in Rajasthan, Kerala, the Northeast and the Andamans,” said Rajeev Kale, President of Holidays, Thomas Cook (India).
According to Ayyappan Rajagopal, CEO of Cleartrip, interest in the mountain is also spurred by summer weather patterns. “Everyone can see that summers are getting hotter every year. This is also driving the search for cooler holiday destinations,” he said, adding that Thailand and Sri Lanka are in demand among foreign destinations, since both countries are currently visa-free for Indians and hotel prices are comparable to domestic rates.
Data:
PRIME SEARCH FOR TRAVELERS
domestic:
International:
With Holi on March 25 and Good Friday March 29, those who can take a leave for the three days in between can enjoy a nine-day break.
COLD CLIMATE CALLING VACATIONERS
Data from travel portals show an increase in tourist spots in the Himalayas. “Popular destinations for the upcoming long weekends include Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand. There is also an increase in interest in Rajasthan, Kerala, the Northeast and the Andamans,” said Rajeev Kale, President of Holidays, Thomas Cook (India).
According to Ayyappan Rajagopal, CEO of Cleartrip, interest in the mountain is also spurred by summer weather patterns. “Everyone can see that summers are getting hotter every year. This is also driving the search for cooler holiday destinations,” he said, adding that Thailand and Sri Lanka are in demand among foreign destinations, since both countries are currently visa-free for Indians and hotel prices are comparable to domestic rates.
Data:
- 50% jump in holiday bookings in March 2024 compared to March 2023
- Holiday requests for long weekends will almost double compared to other such weekends in 2024
- Travelers booked their vacations two to three weeks in advance
- Air fares hover around the 2X mark on many routes, especially for flights to Kashmir
RISE IN SPIRIT TOURISM The Holi weekend saw an increase in inquiries about destinations that loom large on the spiritual tourism map. “There is growing interest in destinations like Dwarka, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Hampi, Madurai, Rameshwaram, Ujjain and Tirupati,” said Daniel D’Souza, President of Holidays, SOTC Travel.
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PRIME SEARCH FOR TRAVELERS
domestic:
International:
- Bangkok
- Phuket
- Dubai
- Columbus
end of the article
