Visa applications jumped 32% for travel during the mid-August long weekend
"These destinations stood out for their mix of accessibility and experiences, making them the ideal choice for a holiday that could be planned at short notice. For many Indians, the Independence Day weekend was a chance to step out of the country without the burden of long waits or complicated paperwork. The influence of social media has amplified this trend, with Bali cafés, Vietnam bike tours, and Dubai nightlife shaping top-of-mind choices for travellers looking for vibrant, share-worthy escapes," said the company in a press statement.
The surge was visible across the country. Tier 2 cities like Surat, Jaipur, and Mohali recorded 35% higher activity, while major metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore continued to dominate volumes. Millennials accounted for the largest share at 57%, followed by Gen Z at 22%, highlighting how younger demographics are driving this wave of weekend travel, it added.
"What we're seeing is a mindset shift. Indians are no longer waiting months to plan a holiday.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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A long weekend is now enough reason to cross a border. The destinations driving this surge, from Bali to Dubai, all share easy visa access, and that convenience is redefining how India travels. Atlys is committed to making international trips as seamless as domestic ones, unlocking access for every Indian,' said Mohak Nahta, Founder & CEO of Atlys.
On the domestic front too, the Independence day, Janmasthami and Parsi New Year led long weekend increased demand to leisure and religious destinations as was indicated by higher airfares.
The most noticeable change was on the Mumbai-Goa route. Airfares on the most popular non-metro destination out of Mumbai had cooled in the recent past with two airports in Goa offering travel options. But this year, last-minute planners wanting to fly out on August 15 morning or noon to Goa and return by a noon or evening flight, had to shell out Rs 23,000.
The cheapest fare on the route was Rs 15,000, but that was for a red-eye flight that departs/lands around midnight.
Last year, the cheapest 24-hour advance purchase fare to travel from Mumbai to Goa started at Rs 15,000, for flights with convenient timings.
Leisure travel and religious tourism peaked for travel mid-August with last-minute fares to Kochi, Gaya, Ayodhya, Agra up. For instance: Mum-Kochi return fare was priced at Rs 12,000 for the Aug 22 weekend, it was Rs 25,00 0 for the Aug 15 weekend. Visiting Friends and Relatives' or VFR destinations don't go up in demand mid-Aug. A return ticket to fly non-stop from Mumbai to Kolkata was priced at Rs 14,000 which is a cheap option and so was the Rs 13,000 return for Mumbai to Delhi travel.
In the coming weeks though, as the country enters the festive season phase, airfares from cities like Mumbai and Delhi to destinations like Kolkata, Varanasi, Ranchi, Madurai etc are set to go up several notches.
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