As summer vacation approaches, travelers planning to venture abroad should brace themselves for a significant increase in costs. Driven by escalating airfares and hotel tariffs, the price of holiday packages has risen substantially, with increases ranging from 20% to 70%.
The dream of a European holiday, which was priced at Rs 2.5 lakh per person for a six-country package last year, has now inflated by about 20%, costing around Rs 3 lakh. Similarly, those considering Vietnam as a budget-friendly option might need to rethink their plans, as costs have skyrocketed by 70%.
Despite the influx of booking inquiries, the conversion into actual holiday packages remains low this season. “Inquiries for the summer holiday season have started pouring in. However, the conversion rate is not as high, primarily due to the spike in airfares,” said Ankit Bajaj, founder of an Ahmedabad-based travel company. He added that the situation is similar for Far East destinations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.
This summer, travelers are gravitating towards Eastern Europe, Western Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. For those seeking more exotic destinations, Scandinavian countries, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are the top picks.
To accommodate travelers on a budget, travel operators are crafting budget-friendly packages. “Asian and Middle Eastern destinations like Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Dubai are popular international destinations that are budget-friendly. Travel agents have curated packages for those with limited budgets,” Bajaj explained.
On the domestic front, northern regions are proving popular among vacation-goers. Destinations such as Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are particularly favored. Additionally, there is a growing trend of travelers heading to the northeastern states.
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