As the countdown to August’s long weekends begins, Indian travellers are eager to pack their bags and embark on exciting mini-adventures. Whether it’s a cultural immersion, a serene escape or a vibrant nightlife, travellers are seeking a mix of experiences while exploring both domestic and international destinations. Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel companies, shares insights on the continued interest of Indians to take advantage of Independence Day (August 15) Raksha Bandhan (August 19) and Janmashtami (August 26) holidays.
Domestic destinations: a tapestry of experiences
Leveraging the extended holidays, Indians are seeking a blend of relaxation and exploration. Bustling metros continue to be popular choices with Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi topping the list, as travellers look at going back home to enjoy the long weekend or combine work and leisure. For those seeking a change of scenery, leisure destinations within drivable distance like Lonavala, Ooty, Mahabaleshwar are on top of mind for travellers. Cultural and spiritual hotspots like Udaipur, Jaipur, Varanasi and Puri are also witnessing a surge in searches during this time.
Top 10 most searched domestic getaways during the long weekends in August are:
1. Udaipur
2. Lonavala
3. Jaipur
4. Ooty
5. Kodaikanal
6. Munnar
7. Goa
8. Mahabaleshwar
9. Varanasi
10. Puri
Top five most searched metros in India during the long weekends in August are:
1. Bengaluru
2. Mumbai
3. Delhi
4. Chennai
5. Hyderabad
International escapes: Short haul adventures
As Indians seek quick getaways, short-haul international destinations are gaining popularity. With visa-friendly policies and increased flight connectivity, exploring these destinations has become easier than ever. While Dubai with its luxury offerings tops the list of the most popular international destinations, the allure of Southeast Asia is also captivating Indians with destinations like Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Bali and Phuket on the travel bucket list.
Top searched international destinations ranked for these long weekends are:
1. Dubai
2. Singapore
3. London
4. Bangkok
5. Kuala Lumpur
6. Bali
7. Paris
8. Phuket
9. Abu Dhabi
10. Tokyo
Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com said, “This year’s travel trends data reveals a growing appetite for short breaks, with 65% of Indian travellers seeking a short domestic trip and nearly half (44%) interested in a short international escapes, both within a 4-night framework. The surge in searches for both domestic and short-haul destinations during August’s long weekends reflects this trend. While popular tourist hotspots remain attractive, we are also seeing rising interest in some destinations such as Hampi, Madikeri, Ujjain and Gokarna. Booking.com is committed to empowering travellers to make the most of their limited time off by streamlining the travel experience and offering a wide selection of options to suit their needs and preferences.”
Methodology
● This release looks at search sessions between 28-07-2024 to 31-07-2024, with check-in dates between 15-08-2024 and 19-08-2024 and 24-08-2024 and 26-08-2024.
● Please note: This is forward-looking data based on searches made by travellers and is subject to changes from actual booked data.
