Trends: Travel, Backpacking Vacationers, Luxury, Hospitality Industry, Domestic Luxury, India

Your holiday just got cheaper

Is this the time for backpacking vacationers to seek out some luxury? It’s too early to tell, says the industry, but packages on offer are loading them with add-ons and freebies, as the hospitality industry go into a slowdown.

The crisis in the American and European markets means that many traditional holiday destinations are looking at cancellations and non-arrivals by tourists from these countries. The silver lining in this for you is that not only are rooms still available at hotels and resorts at these destinations, but that they’re available at prices a notch — or even several notches — lower than typical high-season prices.

Yogesh Shah, CEO, Backpacker & Co, a Mumbai-based travel company that customizes itineraries to suit all budgets and preferences, points out how there are some “amazing rates going for South-east Asia if you just Google for them”.

While announcements on New Year discounts are likely to follow closer to that date, there are several packages that have already been geared for the tourist drought. Malaysia is one country that has reacted very fast “keeping in mind the recent liquidity issues”, according to a Tourism Malaysia release.

While heads of tourism boards contend that prices may be lower than last year, others point to how rates this season are a continuation of summer/lean-season rates. The tourism industry itself contends that the impact of the meltdown will only be felt later as the current winter, bookings (and payments) for which were made six-seven months ago, is still in “season” mode.

But the signs are everywhere. If it’s not cheaper prices, it’s value-additions too by way of extra nights (cleartrip-.com), entrance fees to places of interest, meal and entertainment vouchers (Tourism Malaysia) and even cash-back on bookings. Book a round trip flight on cleartrip.com to Hong Kong before 20 November and you get back 50 per cent cash on the base fare, or Rs 6,000, whichever is less. The catch is that you need to stay in Hong Kong for at least 48 hours, and the offer is valid for only the first 150 customers. But latecomers have reason to cheer too — for every round trip they book; they can get Rs 4,000 worth of Indian Oil vouchers. Fuel for travel — now that’s something you’d never have imagined!

Amit Saberwal, vice president, makemytrip.com says “As compared to last year, there are far more bargain deals available if someone is looking to travel in the last week of December. The economic slowdown has had a considerable impact on the tourism business, but it won’t be as drastic as many are expecting it to be.”

What if you wanted to sample some domestic luxury instead?

In Goa, charter traffic is down by 30-35 per cent. Popular tourist destinations like Kerala and Rajasthan have been hit with fewer foreign travellers coming in. In the ordinary course, this would suggest bargain prices

Travel websites are offering cheaper deals. A Kerala package for three-nights, four days on makemytrip.com for Rs 19,555 per person includes accommodation in Kumarakom Lake Resort, breakfasts, transfers and taxes.

A seven-nights Rajasthan package is just Rs 16,999 per person, inclusive of all taxes and the services of a tour escort. You won’t get better than that. Or, again, say some, watch out for the discounts in January — for five-star holidays on two-star tariffs.

Nov 8, 2008
Source: The Business Standard
URL: http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=339492