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Along with the festive spirit, Eid has more to offer this year. The festival, which will be observed on Friday (tomorrow) has given travellers a chance to enjoy a long weekend and venture out for a holiday.
The zeal is certainly evident, with an expert expecting an increase of 20 per cent in the number of tourists across the country during this period compared to the Eid weekend last year.
Cooler climes call
According to industry experts, with temperatures rising, most travellers are heading to the hills to beat the heat.
“There is an upsurge of 50 per cent in bookings for nearby hill stations such as Mussoorie, Dalhousie, etc. People from Southern India are booking and asking about Ooty and Kodaikanal, both hill stations,” said Kapil Goswamy, Chairman and Managing Director of travel portal BigBreaks.
“Hotel occupancy is expected to hit 100 per cent in all prominent hill stations this time. Flight fares have already soared by 40 per cent for short-haul international destinations such as Dubai, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, which are known for their opulent Eid celebrations and are popular choices for tourists looking to indulge in the grand festivities of the occasion,” he added.
Big potential
“Double Income No Kids (DINK) couples and youngsters are the ones who opt for such long weekends. Tour operators and hoteliers have understood the potential of this market and the segment is witnessing an increase of between 15-18 per cent on a year-on-year basis,” said Karan Anand, Head, Relationships at Cox & Kings Ltd, a travel company.
With the monsoon just arriving in some parts of the country, there has been an increase in wellness vacations, which focus on inculcating healthy habits and involve working out during the vacation.
The industry is also seeing a growth in the demand for self-drive vacations to nearby destinations.
This year, there are a total of 14 long weekends, giving people an opportunity to travel to unexplored destinations. “Long weekends are always a boon for leisure hotels. Also, since there is a rise in the dollar rate, more and more travellers are looking for domestic options,”said Garish Oberoi, President, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI).
“Interestingly, these travellers want to explore the unexplored, so instead of going to Nainital, they plan a trip to Ramgarh, (Nainital district) to go deeper into the hills,’’ he added.
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