Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE & Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited –

“Long-weekend travel is becoming an increasingly important part of how Indians plan their holidays, with travellers looking at public holidays and strategically placed leaves as opportunities to take longer breaks without using up too much of their annual leave. With Dussehra falling on a weekday, taking Monday off offers travel-hungry Indians an opportunity to enjoy a four-day minication, creating possibilities for both planned holidays and spontaneous escapes. We are seeing this translate into interest across both domestic and short-haul international destinations. Destinations like Kerala, Lakshadweep and Andamans; also Bhutan and Sri Lanka in the Indian subcontinent; Maldives, Mauritius, island destinations such as Lombok (Indonesia), Penang and Langkawi (Malaysia) are gaining strong interest. Multigenerational families, Young India’s millennials and GenZ and young professionals are also looking at drivecations to nearby destinations such as Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Coorg, Ooty, Munnar, Wayanad and more. This trend is also encouraging travellers to explore destinations through their local festivals and cultural traditions rather than limiting themselves to conventional sightseeing. Kolkata, with its iconic Durga Puja celebrations, Guwahati, with its vibrant community festivities, and Kullu, known for its distinctive Dussehra traditions, offer compelling options for a culture-led break.”

Mr. S.D. Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel-

The Dussehra long weekend offers travellers the opportunity to convert a public holiday into a well-paced four-day escape. Our data highlights a growing preference for immersive and offbeat experiences. Young India’s GenZ and millennials are seeking hidden gems and event-based travel such as music festivals and sporting events, while multigenerational families are embracing scenic drivecations and experiential stays. Working professionals are leveraging long weekends for mini-cations and quick getaways. Offbeat destinations like Jibhi and Tirthan Valley (Himachal) are trending for their tranquil retreats, while Gokarna (Karnataka) is popular for secluded beach getaways and Mawlynnong (Meghalaya) for cultural immersion. Other popular choices include Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Kerala and Bhutan.There’s also a rising preference for unique experiences, from wildlife safaris and wellness retreats to adventure getaways including biking expeditions, hiking trails, rafting, and waterfall rappelling. In parallel, spiritual tourism continues to witness robust interest for our ‘Darshans’ portfolio to spiritual circuits like Char Dham and Kailash Mansarovar, as well as pilgrim destinations such as Ayodhya, Dwarka, Vaishnodevi, Tirupati, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Ujjain and Velankanni. To meet the diverse needs of our travellers, we’ve curated spiritual journeys with personalized packages, guided spiritual walks led by local experts and immersive experiences that are resonating deeply across age groups. Cruise tourism is also riding the wave of long weekend demand, with strong interest for Indian coastal cruises to Lakshadweep, Kerala and short-haul international sailings in Singapore & Malaysia.”