Surge of nearly 5x for Holi weekend: Long weekends fuelling India’s growing travel appetite

Long weekends like the upcoming Holi weekend fuel India’s travel appetite by Thomas Cook India, SOTC Travel and Cleartrip.

Indians are travelling like never before and Thomas Cook (India) Limited – India’s leading omnichannel travel services company and its Group Company, SOTC Travel’s consumer data indicates increased demand for weekend breaks and minications. The upcoming Holi week/weekend offers a unique opportunity to club two consecutive long weekends by taking 3 days off to make the most of a 9-day holiday. Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel are witnessing a significant surge of nearly 5x for the Holi weekend compared to last year.

Holi Travel Trends Revealed by Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel:

Spiritual Plus:

This Holi, in addition to temple tourism, Indians are travelling to locales connected to the life and times of Lord Krishna – Radha Krishna’s Brij Bhoomi, Huranga – to experience the world-renowned Holi celebrations,

Nandgaon to witness ‘Lathmar’ – a ritual play of village women, Barsana where Holi revellers throng the Radharani Temple and shower each other with sweets and colour – Ladoo Mar; ceremonies at the revered Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan

Food enthusiasts get to indulge in local delicacies like the famous Mathura ka peda, makhan mishri, ghewar, rabri, hing kachori, jalebi and Holi favourites including thandai, gujiya, malpua, bhang pakora, and more.

Drivecations:

Uptick of 25% in closer-to-home/drivable destinations with increased length of stay from 3-4 days to 5-7 days. Travellers in/around Delhi are opting for destinations including Naukuchiatal, Munsiyari, Kangra, Kanatal, Kausani, Ranikhet, Mukteshwar; Bhandardara, Amboli, Sindhudurg, Kolad, Kamshet, Harnai-Anjarle, Saputara, Silvassa, Saputara for customers in Maharashtra & Gujarat; Hampi, Gokarna, Coorg, Puducherry, Kanyakumari for customers in Karnataka/Tamil Nadu

Outdoor Adventure:

Holi weekend getaways show a 30% increase in interest for outdoor and adventure travel with biking trips in Srinagar – Leh – Manali, Manali to Spiti Valley, Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer. White water rafting in Rishikesh, Leh-Ladakh, Uttarakhand. Paragliding in Shillong, Gangtok. Camping in Jaisalmer, Kullu, Chopta. Trekking in Sikkim, Coorg, Mcleodganj. Snowboarding in Auli Pahalgam and Sethan. Safari in Pench, Kanha, Corbett, Ranthambore

The surge in Short Haul:

Visa-free access is fuelling demand for destinations like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mauritius and Malaysia with a surge of 30% vs last year; easy visa regimes for Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam-Cambodia, Abu Dhabi-Dubai, and Oman. Also, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan

Direct connectivity seeing brisk business to places like Baku, Amalty, Vietnam with direct connectivity bringing ease and convenience, and propelling impulse purchase

Higher spending:

Indians are spending 25% higher this Holi compared to last year

Airfares:

6-10% drop in airfares (compared to Holi last year) for domestic favourites like Srinagar, Chandigarh, Andamans, Bagdogra, Goa and Jaipur from hubs like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi. In the subcontinent, airfares to Kathmandu and Colombo have witnessed a drop of approx. 5% – inspiring an uplift in air travel

Domestic destinations in the spotlight – this Holi, domestic travel is witnessing an uptick enjoying a share of 70% compared to international destinations (30%)

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “With Holi falling on a Monday and Good Friday in the same week, customers are taking 3 days off to avail a week-long holiday to explore their favourite locales across India. Our trends indicate that customers are maximising this opportunity to take an extended break – be it a spiritual getaway, an outdoor/adventure trip, self-drives or a tranquil getaway in the hills/beaches.

This year, Thomas Cook is witnessing a significant demand uptick of 5x vs last year and increased spending of 25%; more so given the longer duration of two weekends. In addition to celebrating Holi, our segments across Young India, families, and ad-hoc groups of friends are looking to explore destinations within the country; also shirt haul international options.”

Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head, SOTC Travel said, “The upcoming Holi week combined with the subsequent Easter weekend offers strong potential for a week-long vacation, and our data indicates surge from not only from metros and mini-metros, but also our Regional tier 2 and 3 cities. What is noteworthy is that we are seeing a surge in air-inclusive holidays fuelled by the dip in airfares over the extended week/weekend; drivecations too are seeing a brisk business.”

Holi travel trends by Cleartrip

Destinations

• Top Domestic Destinations: Goa, Bagdodra, Srinagar, Port Blair, Varanasi
• Top International Destinations: Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur

Average Fares

• Domestic flight average fares are trending around 5400 INR.
• International flight’s average fares are around 13000 INR.
• Average hotel fares are around 5800 INR.
• Average bus fares are trending around 950 INR.

Air booking trends

• Domestic flights: 16 % higher bookings compared to 2023
• International flights: 50 % higher bookings compared to 2023

Hotels booking trends

• Most people prefer 2 nights stay.
• Budget hotels have the largest share of bookings.

Holi Trends Revealed by Airbnb

• With a nearly 330% increase in searches, South Goa emerged as India’s most popular getaway for Indian guests for the upcoming Holi and Easter long weekend
• Domestic destinations like Varanasi, Jaipur, Mussoorie and Manali have seen a surge in searches for stays for the long weekend as Indians focus on beach getaways, cultural exploration and mountain retreats.
• With an approximately 400% increase in searches, The Historic European Trio – Athens, tops the chart for International travel amongst Indian guests for the weekend, this is followed by  Istanbul, Bangkok and Rome.
• Beachfront stays, followed by Amazing View and Amazing Pools are the most searched-for categories by Indian guests.
• With an almost 70% increase in non-urban bookings and a 20% rise in family-focused searches, travellers are embracing tranquillity and shared adventures like never before.

As we approach the festive Holi and Easter long weekend, the latest search data^[from Airbnb unveils a dynamic shift in travel preferences among Indian travellers. Whether it’s the tranquil beaches of South Goa or the historic charm of European cities like Athens and Istanbul, Indian travellers are broadening their horizons, driven by the desire for diverse and enriching travel experiences.

Domestically, South Goa has emerged as the top Indian destination with a nearly 330% increase in searches for stays for the upcoming long weekend, highlighting its appeal as the preferred beach destination. Additionally, the cultural allure of Varanasi, Jaipur, and Pondicherry as well as popular hill stations like Mussoorie, Ooty and Manali are also driving diversified interest for short getaways during the upcoming long weekend.

On the international front, Athens leads the way with an approximately 400% spike in searches, earning its place at the top of the wishlist for Indian explorers, closely followed by Istanbul, Bangkok, and Rome. These cities represent a blend of historical richness and cultural vibrancy that resonates deeply with Indian travellers.

The quest for beachfront stays, amazing views, and amazing pools dominates the search trends, pointing towards a collective yearning for scenic beauty and relaxation. An approximate 70% increase in bookings for non-urban destinations coupled with around a 20% rise in family-centric searches underlines a significant shift towards tranquillity and shared experiences.

“Indian travellers are increasingly seeking unique and memorable experiences, moving beyond traditional holiday seasons to embrace every opportunity for exploration,” states Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager at Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. “Airbnb is at the forefront of this shift, offering diverse and enriching travel experiences that cater to the evolving preferences of Indian travellers.”

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