Thailand, Vietnam, London, and Bali Emerge as Leading Winter Travel Destinations with Significant Flight Booking Increases

Flight bookings to international destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, London, and Bali have surged by 80-100% this winter. This data comes from travel app Ixigo and bus ticket platform Abhibus. Meanwhile, domestic travel is also on the rise, with scenic hill stations in North India such as Jammu, Srinagar, and Dehradun seeing increased interest due to their winter landscapes.

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International Travel Trends

The period from December 20, 2024, to January 2, 2025, shows a significant increase in flight bookings to cities like Bangkok, Phuket, Abu Dhabi, Colombo, Singapore, London, Vietnam, Bali, and Dubai. The year-on-year growth ranges from 48% to 174%. However, airfares have varied trends; for instance, Mumbai-Ho Chi Minh City fares rose by 6%, while Mumbai-Phuket saw a 47% increase.

Domestic Travel Insights

In India, spiritual destinations such as Shirdi, Tirupati, Amritsar, and Varanasi have experienced a growth in flight bookings between 22% and 669% year-on-year. This trend highlights a shift towards spiritual tourism. Additionally, domestic airfares have shown mixed patterns. Delhi-Hyderabad routes saw a 17% increase in fares on a 30-day advance purchase basis.

Airfare Fluctuations

Some international routes have seen reduced airfares. For example, the Mumbai-London route dropped by 46%, and New Delhi-Ho Chi Minh City decreased by 18%. These changes are calculated for departures between December 24, 2023-January 1, 2024 compared to the same period the following year.

Changing Preferences in Travel

Aloke Bajpai of ixigo noted a shift in travel preferences this holiday season. Traditional destinations like the Maldives are no longer among the top ten searched locations. Instead, travellers are opting for more diverse experiences. Rohit Sharma from AbhiBus observed that six out of every seven travellers prefer spiritual journeys over leisure trips.

Female Solo Travellers

There has been a notable rise in female solo travellers using bus services for year-end travel plans. Bookings from women have increased by 50% year-on-year. This trend indicates growing confidence among women to explore new destinations independently.

As the year-end approaches, these travel trends reflect changing preferences among travellers. Both international and domestic destinations are witnessing varying levels of interest and airfare fluctuations. The data suggests a broader shift towards diverse travel experiences over traditional hotspots.