Travel Surge Expected During Independence Day Long Weekend

Industry experts anticipate a significant increase in travel over the Independence Day long weekend. Popular domestic destinations include Udaipur and Goa, while top metros like Bengaluru are also highly searched. International favorites include Dubai and Southeast Asian cities. Travelers are booking in advance to avoid high fares.

A significant increase in travel is expected during the Independence Day long weekend beginning Thursday, industry experts have revealed.

According to hotel booking platform Booking.com, the top 10 most searched domestic getaways for the August long weekends include Udaipur, Lonavala, Jaipur, Ooty, and Kodaikanal, among others. In terms of metropolitan areas, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi are at the forefront of searches.

Booking.com analyzed search sessions from July 28 to July 31, targeting check-in dates between August 15-19 and August 24-26. Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for Booking.com, said, "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 destinations such as Hampi, Madikeri, Ujjain, and Gokarna."

Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head at Thomas Cook India, noted that public holidays like Parsi New Year and Raksha Bandhan are enabling extended breaks for India's migrant working population, who are making advance bookings to secure better fares. Internationally, Dubai tops the list for its luxury offerings, followed closely by Southeast Asian destinations.

(With inputs from agencies.)