BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA, 15 AUGUST 2022
Since 12 August the schools and the offices have remained closed due to the Rakhsha Bandhan and independence day holidays, and the tourism and the hospitality industry has recorded a surge in business as people rush to spend the short trip leisure holidays along with their families in nearby local places, in other states and some even outside the country.
According to travel agencies about 60 percent of the tourists are preferring budget hotels for the short weekend leisure family trips while about 15 percent are preferring the luxury hotels and resorts including foreign trips.
Rakhsha Bandhan, followed by Saturday, Sunday and independence day and some tourists are also utilising their short vacations upto the Janmastami.
Talking to The Travel and Tourism Times, Anil Punjabi, Chairman (East) of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) has informed that the Switzerland of India, Kashmir has been the star attraction amongst the tourists in this year’s short vacation. Post covid the tourism in Kashmir has really peaked up and the tourists are eager to visit Kashmir to celebrate 15 th August at the LoC.
“ When it comes to long weekend holidays, the first thing that clicks in the mind is travel. The people of Kolkata and the surrounding areas are preferring the nearby tourist destinations like the Vedic Resort, Radisson, Ibiza. While some others prefer tourist places in West Bengal like Digha and Manadarmani,” Anil Punjabi added.
Anil Punjabi further said that the other domestic tourism places which are attracting the tourists are Goa and Kerala. However, many people are going to foreign trips also and visiting places like Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore and Vietnam.
Manav Soni, Chairman ( East) of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) said that this weekend has been a great one for all celebrating the 75 glorious years of India’s independence.
“ It couldn’t be better with a long weekend giving an opportunity for all to take a much needed break. Singapore, Thailand , Dubai and Malaysia are amongst the international destinations and Goa, Rajasthan and Kashmir are the preferred domestic destinations this weekend. Not to miss out on the state’s own popular tourism hotspots like Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mandarmani, Digha and many more. All are sold out. In totality a great time and a productive celebration for all,” adds Manav Soni.
All the travel agencies of the state and in the country are offering exciting tour packages with huge discounts and also the hospitality sector has come forward with various offers, events, cuisines and discounts.
While a number of people are preferring scenic rural destinations and many people are preferring road trips to their chosen tourist destinations.
The Ministry of Tourism is also encouraging tourism in this long weekend period and the ASI has also come forward and withdrawn ticket sales in its monuments and museums. The Taj Mahal in Agra is still the most popular choice of tourist attraction.
Besides, resorts, hotels and even homestays are also becoming popular these days.
“Ministry of Tourism wishes for the happiness and progress of our nation as we celebrate 75 years of independence. We wish all a very Happy Independence Day!,” tweets the Ministry of Tourism today.
One of the oldest civilisations in the world, India is a mosaic of multicultural experiences. With a rich heritage and myriad attractions, the country is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It covers an area of 32, 87,263 sq. km, extending from the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. As the 7th largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity.
Fringed by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. As you travel the expanse of the country, you are greeted by diverse nuances of cuisines, faiths, arts, crafts, music, nature, lands, tribes, history and adventure sports. India has a mesmeric conflation of the old and the new. As the bustling old bazaars rub shoulders with swanky shopping malls, and majestic monuments accompany luxurious heritage hotels, the quintessential traveller can get the best of both worlds. Head to the mountains, enjoy a beach retreat or cruise through the golden Thar, India has options galore for all.
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