India chases the perfect mini-break this Dussehra

Leisure hotspots and short-haul SE Asia see surge in demand as hotel tariffs and airfares climb 15-30%

- ROSHNI SHEKHAR & AKSHARA SRIVASTAVA

Hotels and travel operators in India and nearby Southeast Asian destinations are seeing a rise in travel demand for the upcoming Dussehra long weekend, by as much as 25 per cent year-on-year (Yo-Y), underscoring the popularity of weekend getaways among Indian travellers and further lifting the industry's optimism about travel demand for the Diwali and New Year festival periods.

Booking demand for this Dussehra has seen a marked rise compared to last year, with overall demand up by 20-25 per cent, according to EaseMyTrip. Hotel bookings have increased by 14-16 per cent for Dussehra's festival period, starting from October 2, with room rates rising by 30 per cent Yo-Y. EaseMyTrip noted that advance airfares across major Indian cities have risen, with average one-way nonstop fares reaching ₹14,000-15,000.

Families, couples, and friend groups are among the major travel segments this Dussehra weekend, said industry watchers. While travel operators have been running festival sales and discounts, hotels have been curating cultural and culinary experiences for their guests.

Abhishek Daga, cofounder of Thrillophilia, a travel platform, noted that despite the late monsoons which usually push leisure demand further into October - it is already seeing an 18 per cent rise in bookings against last year.