Hotels rake in moolah as Indians hit the road for impulsive trips
Despite the high price tag, the boutique hotel is experiencing a "significant" rise in last-minute, and impromptu bookings, said hotel manager Vikas Nagar. He said improved highway infrastructure is encouraging more travellers to choose Haridwar, situated on the banks of the Ganges, for a short, and drivable getaway.
A rising number of Indians are taking to
self-driving trips
and road trips not just domestically but overseas as well.
Rajesh Magow
, co-founder and group CEO of
MakeMyTrip
said the interesting shift being observed in leisure travel by road in recent times is the emergence of newer demand centres near metro hubs across the country.
Road connectivity is improving every year, effectively bringing destinations closer with reduced driving hours, he said, adding while Jaipur and Agra continue to attract travellers from Delhi, the driving time to destinations like Dehradun, Rishikesh and Ajmer has 'significantly' reduced. "Similarly, while Mysuru remains a popular choice from Bengaluru, destinations such as Coorg, Wayanad, and Kabini have become more accessible due to improved connectivity, and the reduced driving time to Nagpur from Mumbai has also made it easier to plan road trips to Nashik and the Vidarbha region."
Radisson Hotel Group
is witnessing a steady uptick in bookings at its properties located within a comfortable driving distance from major cities, particularly in destinations like Karjat, Shimla, Lonavala, Mussoorie, and Saputara, said Nikhil Sharma, MD and COO of South Asia.
The trend is not limited to India alone.
Romil Pant, VP and head of holidays at Thomas Cook (India) said Australia, New Zealand, and the UK are emerging as key preferences not just for dramatic landscapes but also for the ease they offer Indian travellers with right-hand driving and English road signages. He said customers are increasingly combining stretches like Australia's Great Ocean Road or New Zealand's South Island circuits with stays in boutique vineyard estates, countryside lodges and national park accommodations. "These itineraries often include multiple stops, such as wine regions like Hunter and Barossa, scenic detours into rainforest zones or geothermal sites."
S.D. Nandakumar, president and country head of holidays and corporate tours at
SOTC Travel
said wider availability of intuitive navigation apps, digital mapping, and road-trip platforms has also increased comfort in self-navigated travel.
Despite some core areas of Ranthambore being closed to travellers currently, the Bookmark Resorts Jogi Mahal Ranthambore was fully occupied last weekend, said Ashish Vohra, cofounder and CEO of Justa Hotels & Resorts.
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