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As holidays start, Kochiites catching the travel bug
KOCHI: Whether it is a getaway in Europe or a holiday in the Gulf, more Kochiites are taking a break from routine and going out for vacation this Onam.China, which fully opened its borders and allowed tourists after three years of the pandemic, is also turning out to be a favorite destination for Kochiites eager to explore new places. Trips to domestic and international destinations have seen a 200% increase compared to last year with travel operators suggesting that now they are unable to meet last-moment requests.
The most-popular destinations continue to be Europe, Far East countries, and Gulf countries. Bali and Mauritius are getting popular among young couples and those who already visited Far East countries and want a short, not too-expensive vacation. For those who can't afford a trip abroad, Jammu and Kashmir, and are the most preferred destinations within the country. For most domestic travellers, the average length of travel is five to seven days while for international travellers, it is seven to 10 days. "All the Onam trips have been sold out in advance. It is almost impossible to plan last-minute air travel as we Himachal Pradesh won't get any flight seats.
The situation is such that now we plan one year in advance," said MK Soman, managing director, Somans Tours and Travels. Since 2000, there has been an exponential rise in the number of Indian nationals traveling outside the country and India has emerged as the largest source market for outbound travelers in Asia in 2022. The country accounted for around 10 million foreign trips, making it the leading Asian source market for outbound travel. By 2024, Indians are expected to spend more than $42 billion per year on outbound travel.
Malayalis are no exception, bitten by the bitten by bug to discover new and as well as well-known destinations. "People are eager to travel and create memories. But these trips need to be planned well in advance to get a flight ticket at a reasonable rate. To most destinations, in India and abroad, last-minute airfares are very high.
Malayalis are now increasingly planning Onam holidays well in advance," said Praveen Shetty from New Prime India Cochin Tours and Travels. Even solo women trips are getting popular in Kerala during the festival season, and this is true for women of all age groups.
"Women prefer to take trips of longer duration during the festive time and most of them travel with their children or mothers. Few travel solo too," said Geethu Mohandas, founder of Let's Go for a Camp, a travel company
Source: Times OF India
