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Time of India

Independence Day turns into 5-day vacay

'Scenic spots such as Dehradun, Kannur, Udaipur, Coimbatore, among others are also seeing strong momentum, with fares rising 10-15% YoY on average during the holiday weekend' The Independence Day long weekend is almost here and you might notice a trend among your colleagues: a sudden surge in pre-emptive sick leave requests, starting Wednesday. It's a sure sign that for many, this isn't just a small break, but the launchpad for a getaway! With Independence Day falling on a Friday, taking just two additional days off can give you a five-day vacation. Travel aggregators and hotel chains are already reporting a surge in bookings across popular destinations during this period. As travellers embrace the idea of mini-vacays, places like Goa, Puducherry, Udaipur, and Ooty are seeing a significant uptick in weekend travellers. 'TRAVEL DEMANDS APPEAR TO BE PEAKING TWO DAYS PRIOR TO INDEPENDENCE DAY' Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, shares, 'Independence Day has emerged as a key travel occasion over the years. This year too, the search and booking trends point to strong intent to travel over the Independence Day weekend. While the majority of bookings typically happen in the last 7-10 days, we are already seeing momentum, with Rakhi and Independence Day falling within a week of each other. Travel demand appears to be peaking two days earlier, on Wednesday, August 13, giving early travellers a five-day window.' According to EaseMyTrip, travel bookings have risen by 11–12% compared to last year. Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip, explains, 'We're seeing strong travel momentum around this Independence Day long weekend. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Will Happen to Your Body If You Start Eating 3 Eggs Every Day? Undo The surge reflects a clear preference for short-haul getaways, especially among working professionals and young couples eager to make the most of the extended break.' 'SOME RESORTS HAVE 75% OCCUPANCY A MONTH IN ADVANCE' Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director & COO, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, highlights, 'The upcoming long weekend is shaping up to be a strong travel period, with many looking to make the most of the short break. We're seeing encouraging signs of early bookings across key leisure destinations. Some resorts have already secured over 75% occupancy a month in advance.' Short-haul getaways on the rise Indian travellers are planning their perfect escape for the long weekend. Agoda reveals that the top five destinations (based on its search data) are Goa, Udaipur, Lonavala, Ooty, and Coorg. Gaurav Malik, Country Director for the Indian Subcontinent and Indian Ocean Islands at Agoda, shares, 'It is encouraging to see Indian travellers planning ahead and using long weekends to explore the country's diverse offerings, seeking experiences that blend relaxation with discovery. ' Haven't booked yet? Here's a simple hack for a 5-day getaway Hari Ganapathy, co-founder of Pickyourtrail, offers a smart tip, 'With a little strategic planning, you can swap desk time for downtime and enjoy a five-day holiday – using just two leave days!' Here's the travel hack • Take Thursday (August 14), & Monday (August 18) off • Pair them with Independence day (Friday, August 15) and Janmashtami (Saturday, August 16) • You've got yourself a 5-day window to finally take that trip you've been putting off Quick international getaways • Thailand (Phuket + Phi Phi) • Sri Lanka (Galle + South Coast) • Dubai • Singapore Changing booking habits & travel preferences 'We've seen a 35% surge in hotel bookings compared to last year, with travellers spending more on better accommodations and curated experiences,' adds Pittie. He explains that the demand is strong across both metro and non-metro cities. 'There has been an uptick in young travellers aged 20–30, influenced by socialmedia, flexible work setups, and rising disposable incomes. While solo women still represent a small segment (1–2%), we expect this to grow with more women-centric travel offerings. Overall, sentiment is strong, with more Indians eager to make the most of long weekends,' he adds. Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO, ixigo, says, "Travel to popular leisure destinations is up by 25–30% year-on-year. Goa, in particular, has seen a surge in demand for beach getaways, pushing airfares to Goa from Delhi and Mumbai up by over 100% week-on-week. Scenic spots such as Dehradun, Kannur, Udaipur, Coimbatore, among others are also seeing strong momentum, with fares rising 10-15% YoY on average during the holiday weekend. Among the most booked domestic destinations this season are Dehradun, Port Blair, Goa, and Coimbatore."