Travel agents and tour operators from the city say many are looking at destinations that can be reached by road, to save money on travel.
“With airfares out of reach of the common man, many are cancelling or postponing their travel plans to faraway places and are considering short trips to nearby destinations,” said Nagesh Pampati, chairman, Travel Agents Association of India, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana chapter. He added that international travel too is out of the question for many because of the expensive flight tickets.
“During Dasara holidays, many used to travel to Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, among other places. But, this year, as airfares more than double the normal fare, not many from the state are going to these locations or preferring international travel,” he added.
Nearby destinations that are, instead, in demand include Chikkamagaluru, Coonoor, Araku, and resorts, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
“Domestic travel has not reached the pre-pandemic level lyet, but many are taking two-three-day trips to nearby locations, where they can spend some quality time with family,” said Siraj Ansari, president, Tour Operators Association of Telangana adding that cost is deterrent for many as prices of travel, including bus fares, accommodation, and food has increased exorbitantly. Denizens said that after being stuck at home for about two years in the pandemic, they just want to get out of the house even if it means travelling to some known location close by.
“We have decided to drive to Srisailam this weekend. We will be spending a couple of days there and will come back to the city to celebrate Dasara,” said Kiran D, a techie. Y Suresh, a private employee, said that he had to cancel his plan of going to Varanasi in October due to exorbitant prices. “For two people, I needed to spend about Rs 35,000 to Rs 40, 000 only on flight tickets. Instead of spending so much, I decided to go when prices drop,” he said.
