The long weekend resulting from Gandhi Jayanti on October 2nd proved to be a catalyst for increased travel aspirations, with flight searches experiencing a remarkable 40% upswing.
Alok Bajpai, co-founder and group CEO of the online travel platform ixigo, observed that travelers often seize the opportunity to plan extended family getaways during a four-to-five-day break.
He reported a substantial 44% surge in flight searches in anticipation of the Gandhi Jayanti long weekend.
This heightened demand serves as a promising indicator of increased travel during the upcoming festive months of October and November.
Top Destinations Witnessing Escalated Demand
During the extended weekend of October 2nd, travelers showed a keen interest in exploring renowned destinations such as Mumbai, Goa, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh.
Notably, Gandhi Jayanti prompted the highest flight searches for routes including Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Himachal, Delhi-Goa, and Delhi-Rajasthan.
Alok Bajpai also recommended popular destinations like Goa, Jaipur, Varanasi, Pune, Coorg, Dubai, Singapore, and the Maldives for those planning a getaway in the coming weekends.
Post the Gandhi Jayanti weekend, searches for flights to Kolkata doubled in anticipation of the Durga Puja and Dussehra long weekends.
The surge in travel interest primarily stems from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Assam, and Orissa.
Growing Interest in Spiritual Retreats and Coastal Getaways
K Sripada Vaidya, co-founder of Confirmatkat, reported a 15% growth in interest for spiritual retreats, including destinations like Tirupati, Varanasi, Puri, and Mathura. Small towns are increasingly capturing the fascination of travelers.
Rohit Sharma, COO of the online bus booking service Abhibus, noted a surge in bookings for coastal destinations such as Pondicherry, Goa, Kanyakumari, and Calicut as sea lovers venture out post-monsoon.
Bookings in these coastal locations have nearly doubled compared to the previous month.
Hotel Bookings on the Rise
The Gandhi Jayanti long weekend also triggered a surge in hotel room bookings, with high demand seen in places like Goa, Jaipur, Bangalore, Chennai, Kerala, and Agra for the forthcoming extended break.
Approximately 80% to 90% of the available rooms in these locations have already been reserved, marking a 15% increase compared to the previous year.
