Advertisement
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Private equity has played a significant role in shaping Indi...
Luxury real estate is one of the most talked-about segments ...
Airports play a much bigger role than just enabling travel -...
Regional festivals are increasingly influencing how Indian travellers plan their holidays, with many combining festive breaks with leisure, spiritual and international travel, according to travel services companies Thomas Cook (India) Ltd and SOTC Travel. The companies said demand is rising around major celebrations including Onam, Pongal, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Durga Puja, Mysore Dasara, Dussehra and Diwali, as travellers utilise extended holiday periods for domestic and overseas vacations. Popular domestic destinations continue to include cultural and religious centres such as Vrindavan, Mathura, Kolkata, Varanasi and Mysuru, while international demand remains strong for Southeast Asia, Europe, Japan, China, Egypt, South Africa and the UAE. The companies also reported growing preference for experience-led itineraries and multi-generational travel during festive periods.
Indian travellers are increasingly planning holidays around regional and national festivals, with festive calendars becoming an important factor in domestic and international travel decisions, according to Thomas Cook (India) Ltd and its group company SOTC Travel.
The companies said they are witnessing growing demand from travellers who are aligning vacations with festivals such as Onam in Kerala, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra, Navratri in Gujarat, Durga Puja in eastern India, Mysore Dasara in Karnataka, Dussehra across northern India and Diwali, which is celebrated nationwide. According to the companies, these festivals provide opportunities for extended breaks that are increasingly being used for family holidays, cultural experiences, spiritual travel and overseas vacations.
The trend is visible across multiple source markets. Travellers from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are planning holidays around the Onam season, while Chennai and Coimbatore are utilising the Pongal break for travel. Mumbai and Pune continue to generate demand during Ganesh Chaturthi, whereas Ahmedabad and Vadodara are seeing increased travel activity linked to Navratri. Similarly, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar are emerging as major departure markets during Durga Puja, while Bengaluru and Mysuru are witnessing increased travel during Mysore Dasara. Delhi-NCR and Jaipur are among the key markets planning holidays around Dussehra, while Diwali continues to drive travel demand across metropolitan cities including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
The companies noted that domestic travel remains closely linked with religious and cultural tourism. Destinations such as Vrindavan and Mathura continue to attract visitors during Janmashtami, while Kolkata remains a major attraction during Durga Puja because of its large-scale cultural celebrations, heritage events and public festivities. Varanasi also records increased visitor interest during Diwali and Dev Deepawali, while Mysuru continues to attract tourists during the annual Dasara celebrations.
Alongside domestic tourism, festive holidays are also supporting outbound travel. Thomas Cook and SOTC said many travellers are using festival breaks to undertake short-haul and long-haul international holidays. Europe continues to attract travellers seeking cultural and heritage experiences, particularly during the autumn season, while Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia remain popular among families and first-time overseas travellers due to their accessibility and leisure offerings.
The companies also reported growing interest in destinations such as Japan, China, Egypt, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, where travellers are increasingly seeking immersive cultural experiences and curated itineraries.
According to the companies, travel preferences are shifting towards experience-led holidays, with travellers placing greater emphasis on local cultural activities, food, heritage and nature rather than conventional sightseeing. They also observed a rise in multi-generational travel, with parents, children and grandparents increasingly travelling together during festive periods. Destinations including Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bali, Japan and Europe continue to witness demand from family groups because of their accessibility and wide range of attractions.
Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head – Holidays, MICE and Visa at Thomas Cook (India), said regional festivals have become one of the strongest drivers of holiday planning, with travellers increasingly using festive breaks to combine family celebrations with leisure, spiritual and international travel. S.D. Nandakumar, President and Country Head – Holidays and Corporate Tours at SOTC Travel, added that festivals are increasingly becoming occasions for families to celebrate together through travel and shared experiences rather than remaining confined to traditional gatherings.
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
