Big annual vacation is passé; Indians now prefer micro holidays around the year

“Direct air connectivity and easy access have played a pivotal role in putting domestic/ short-haul micro-trips firmly on the radar, with affordability—both land and air—serving to sustain the momentum,” says Rajeev Kale, president and country head (holidays), MICE, Visa-Thomas Cook (India).

Driven largely by young working professionals, millennials and Gen Z, who want to utilise all their long weekends and holidays, these short-duration trips are seen as a key way to unwind and relax amidst a fast-paced life. In fact, travel is no longer seen as discretionary spending but has become an integral part of life. “Extended weekends and festivals/ hallmark holidays are propelling a desire to discover new locales while enjoying bonding time with family/ friends,” says Kale. No wonder, 51 per cent of bookings for such 2-4 day trips are for two people, and 20 per cent of the bookings are done for groups or families, with more than four people travelling together.

Given the rise in urban disposable incomes, it is the top metros—Mumbai, followed by Delhi and Bengaluru—that are driving the trend with the highest instances of weekend getaways and staycations, as per the MakeMyTrip data.

These travellers are not merely seeking budget stays; almost 20 per cent of hotel bookings for this kind of travel fall in the tariff range of Rs 7,000 and above per night, with about 10 per cent reservations made for hotels with tariffs of Rs 10,000 and above per night.

Consequently, micro-trips—travel destinations four to eight hours away—become the preferred choice for those looking for a quick getaway from their busy routines. While cooler climates are the go-to places during summer season, for Mumbai, Goa, Lonavala, Pune and Karjat are the most preferred destinations all year round. For Delhi, it’s Rishikesh, Jim Corbett and Amritsar; for Bengaluru, it’s Coorg and Chikmagalur.

Daniel D’Souza, president and country head, holidays, at SOTC Travel, says that well-heeled consumers are also showing high interest in easy visa destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bali, Vietnam and the UAE.

According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India’s travel and tourism industry will reach a market size of $23.72 billion (Rs 1.98 lakh crore) by this year, with an estimated annual growth rate of 9.62 per cent.

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