Diwali travel bookings soar as Indians blend festivities with faith, getaways: Experts

Mumbai: India is witnessing a record surge in festive travel this Diwali, as travellers combine traditional celebrations and family reunions with luxury escapes and spiritual journeys, with online travel platforms reporting strong growth in domestic and international bookings, according to experts. MakeMyTrip co-founder and Group CEO Rajesh Magow said visiting friends and relatives (VFR) remains the biggest driver of festive season travel, as many Indians head back to their hometowns to celebrate Diwali.

"Therefore, of the top 10 most booked destinations, five are metros: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. This year, with the festival falling early in the week, many travellers are booking their trips as early as the preceding Friday to enjoy extended festivities. "We are also observing a rise in demand for pilgrimage destinations, reflecting how families are combining festive reunions with spiritual journeys," he noted.

In terms of international travel, short-haul destinations, such as the UAE, Singapore, Thailand and an emerging favourite, Vietnam, have become the go-to choices this festive season for Indians, Magow added. Thomas Cook (India) President and Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa - Rajeev Kale said that there's a growing trend where families, including multiple generations, are choosing to celebrate festivals like Diwali - for bonding time and celebrations, while exploring favourite or new destinations. "Particularly interesting is the increase in average spends, with travellers opting for longer stays, moving from traditional three-day breaks to 6-12 day holidays. Multi-generational families are maximising school vacations for Diwali, while millennial and working professionals are combining weekends with festive holidays for extended getaways," he stated.