Wings clipped, travel's all about discovery of India now

When the pandemic struck in March, people rushed to defer their travel bookings by a month or two. Four months of lockdown later, their zeal to travel has not flagged. From obscure beach resorts to cosy homestays in verdant valleys, the footloose Indian has been browsing travel sites for places to explore when restrictions ease.

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Travel companies have been quick to adapt to the new normal by offering more short-haul trips and self-drive holidays. Vipul Prakash, CEO at MakeMyTrip and Goibibo, told TOI they launched more than 4,000 short-term holidays covering over 700 tourist destinations in July, with the focus on offbeat places like Chitkul in Himachal Pradesh and Tarkarli in Maharashtra.

With international travel unlikely to resume soon, the Indian travel industry is betting big on domestic tourists across all categories and budgets. Industry insiders, however, say there’s an urgent need for uniform travel and health protocols.

Jyotsna Suri, CMD of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and executive member of the Hotel Association of India, told TOI: “At present, each of the 29 states and union territories has its own travel and health protocols. A centralised policy is needed to ensure travellers are not harassed and transition smoothly from one state to another.” She said the 25-30 million Indians who travel abroad every year can be tapped to boost domestic tourism, and tax rebates on hotel and restaurant bills might also provide a stimulus.