Thursday, August 15, 2024 The upcoming Independence Day long weekend is expected to see a significant surge in travel, with both domestic and international destinations witnessing high demand. Data from hotel booking platforms, particularly Booking.com, indicates a noticeable increase in searches for popular destinations across India.
This trend underscores the growing enthusiasm among travelers to make the most of the extended weekend. Based on search data from July 28 to July 31, travelers are particularly interested in destinations such as Udaipur, Lonavala, Jaipur, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Munnar, Goa, Mahabaleshwar, Varanasi, and Puri. These locations top the list of the most searched domestic getaways for the long weekends in August, specifically around Independence Day.
In addition to these, metro cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Hyderabad are also experiencing high search volumes, reflecting their appeal as major travel hubs. Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia at Booking.com, highlighted the growing interest in both well-known tourist hotspots and emerging destinations.
“The surge in searches for domestic and short-haul destinations during August’s long weekends reflects a strong travel demand. While popular tourist spots remain attractive, we are also observing rising interest in destinations like Hampi, Madikeri, Ujjain, and Gokarna,” he said. The extended weekend around Independence Day, which coincides with public holidays such as Parsi New Year, Raksha Bandhan, and Janmashtami, is prompting many in India’s migrant working population to plan trips home or to leisure destinations.
Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head of Global Business Travel at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel, noted that many are seizing this opportunity to create extended breaks of 3-5 days. “With high demand during such weekends, our data shows that customers are booking in advance to avoid the last-minute rush and higher fares,” Rastogi remarked. Internationally, Dubai remains a top choice among Indian travelers, thanks to its luxurious offerings.
However, Southeast Asian destinations such as Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, and Phuket are also gaining popularity. The forward-looking data from Booking.com, which is based on search sessions, indicates that these locations are firmly on the radar of Indian tourists.
It is important to note, though, that actual bookings may vary as plans solidify closer to the travel dates. This surge in travel interest is a positive indicator for the travel and hospitality industries, which have been recovering steadily post-pandemic. As travelers continue to seek both domestic and international experiences, the trend highlights a robust demand that is likely to persist through the remainder of the year.
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