Independence Day weekend sends Indians into a travel frenzy

livemint.com:

MUMBAI : As the nation celebrates Independence Day, a surge in travel enthusiasm has gripped well-to-do Indians. The extended holiday weekend has sparked a travel frenzy, with bookings for both domestic and international destinations witnessing a significant rise.

This year, Independence Day on Thursday, followed by Raksha Bandhan on Monday, offers a perfect escape for travellers. “Our latest data reveals a robust demand for travel during the Independence Day long weekend, with a strong sentiment for domestic destinations," said Anuj Rathi, chief business and growth officer at online travel agency Cleartrip.

Destinations like Puducherry, Udaipur and Munnar have witnessed a phenomenal surge in hotel bookings for the Independence Day weekend, with increases of 760%, 441% and 321%, respectively, compared to average bookings in the previous three weeks, data sourced from Cleartrip showed. Other popular choices include Ooty, Goa, Jaipur and Lonavala, all recording substantial booking growth.

“Indians are travelling like never before, and our data indicates that they are maximizing every opportunity and converting them into mini-cations," said Rajeev Kale, president and country head, holidays and MICE, Visa at Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. “Domestic and closer-to-home destinations are seeing increased interest, not just from families or multigenerational families, but also from our young professionals or millennials and couples segments." Airlines have witnessed a significant spike in flight bookings, even for international travel.