The festive season is approaching, and with it comes the annual surge in travel demand. But this year, something is different. Airfares are hitting eye-watering highs, yet booking platforms are buzzing. Travellers are undeterred.
The Soaring Cost of a Festive Getaway
If you've looked up flight
tickets for Diwali or Christmas, you might need to sit down. Prices on major domestic routes have surged, in some cases by over 50% compared to last year. A one-way ticket on a popular route like Mumbai to Patna or Bengaluru to Varanasi could cost more than ₹25,000 closer to the festival dates. This spike is not just a case of high demand. A combination of factors is at play: elevated aviation fuel prices, which make up a huge chunk of an airline's operational costs, have been passed on to consumers. Additionally, some major carriers have reduced their flight capacity compared to last year, creating fewer available seats on high-demand routes and driving prices up further through dynamic pricing.
The New Travel Mindset: Experiences Over Expenses
So, why are people still booking? The answer lies in a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour, particularly among urban Indians. For many, travel is no longer a discretionary luxury but an essential expenditure. This trend, which gained momentum post-pandemic, has solidified into a new normal where experiences are valued more than material goods. Travel and hospitality now account for a significant portion of planned festive spending. Instead of cutting back, travellers are adapting. They are booking earlier to lock in slightly better fares, with booking lead times increasing from around 20 days to nearly 29 days for festive hotel stays. The era of waiting for last-minute deals appears to be over; the mantra is now to plan ahead and accept the higher cost as the price of a well-deserved break.
Where is Everyone Going?
The destinations of choice reflect a mix of old favourites and new explorations. Domestically, classic holiday spots like Goa, Kerala, Kashmir, and the Andaman Islands continue to draw crowds. However, there's also a rising interest in offbeat locations, especially drive-to destinations and places in the Himalayas like Sangla and Shoja, which have seen booking numbers triple. On the international front, short-haul destinations are winning. Thailand, Dubai, Singapore, and the Maldives are popular choices, offering a blend of luxury and accessibility. The relative ease of travel, with options for visas on arrival and direct flights, makes these locations attractive for a festive escape without breaking the bank entirely, even with higher airfares.
A Season of Trips, Not Just One Trip
Another emerging pattern is the move away from a single long holiday towards multiple shorter breaks. Many are taking advantage of long weekends to plan quick, spontaneous getaways. Data from hospitality platforms shows that a significant number of travellers are making repeat bookings within the same festive quarter, often visiting more than one destination. The average trip duration for these breaks is often just two or three nights. This behaviour suggests a desire to maximise leisure time throughout the festive period, from Durga Puja through to the New Year. Instead of one big annual vacation, the season itself has become a collection of smaller travel experiences, with many booking their stays within just a few days of departure, highlighting a growing spontaneity in travel planning.
