Airfares to tourist getaways soar ahead of holiday season
Times of India | 18 December 2024
Kolkata: Airfares from Kolkata to traditional holiday hot spots in the country are soaring high this festive season as thousands are leaving the city to enjoy Christmas and year-end festivities with friends and families. From the valleys of Kashmir and snowy peaks of Manali in the north to the backwaters of Kerala and the archipelago of Andamans in the south, Kolkatans are planning their year-end festivities away from home despite steep airfares and hotel tariff.
Domestic destinations are seeing particularly dramatic price increases. Return tickets to Goa are currently priced at Rs 25,000 for the year-end period – nearly 40% higher than regular fares. The Andaman Islands are even more expensive, with Port Blair flights touching Rs 36,000 for return tickets, which usually cost around Rs 17,000. Northern destinations aren't far behind, with Srinagar commanding Rs 22,000 for a return journey. The same journey costs Rs 5,000 less two weeks later. Return tickets to Jaipur cost Rs 18,000 for the year-end period, while the same costs Rs 13,500 in the second week of January.
The international sector is equally pricey, with Southeast Asian destinations leading the pack. Bali tops the list with return fares of Rs 60,000, while Bangkok and Hanoi are priced at Rs 31,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively – approximately double their normal rates.
Santosh Kumar, country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com, said: "This year-end holiday season highlights the evolving travel aspirations of Indian travellers. We're witnessing a surge in travel demand, with a fascinating blend of domestic and international exploration." Rajesh Magow, CEO of MakeMyTrip, said Andamans, Kerala, Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir topped the domestic holiday package destinations for the years while Dubai, Thailand, Singapore, Maldives and Bali led the international sector.
Despite the high prices, there's a silver lining. Industry experts note that current rates are still lower than last year's year-end prices, thanks to increased flight frequencies across sectors. The Kolkata airport has reported steadily increasing passenger numbers, with almost 60,000 odd domestic passenger movements on all days of the last few weeks and more than 8,000 international passengers almost every day. Airport officials are optimistic about even higher numbers in the coming weeks, projecting passenger counts to exceed 70,000 by the year-end. Hotel occupancy rates are also at peak levels, with most major properties reporting full bookings for the year-end week.
The surge in travel isn't deterring last-minute planners like Jadavpur resident Subhajit Dutta, who booked tickets to Srinagar on Dec 26 for a week's trip with his family and another friend's family. "The flight tickets are premium and so are the hotels. But this is the best time to visit the hills," he said.
"Those who planned their holidays in advance managed to keep their expenses in check. But the last-minute vacation planners are facing steep rates," said Anil Punjabi, national committee member of the Travel Agents Federation of India (East).
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