Indian summer travel defies 30-40% airfare hike as drivecations and short-haul outbound surge
Despite airfares up 30-40% YoY, domestic leisure demand holds firm. Bus bookings jumped 38%, Radisson occupancy rose 5%, and Leisure Hotels saw bookings climb 25%. Travelers pivot to drivecations and short-haul Asia—Vietnam +130%, Sri Lanka +68%—while long-haul to US, Europe and Gulf softens.
What happened
MakeMyTrip · Indian summer travel demand stays strong domestically despite 30-40% airfare hikes; travelers shift to drivecations, buses, and short-haul
Key facts
- airfares up 30-40% YoY
- Vietnam +130%
- Sri Lanka +68%
- Singapore +32%
- Thailand +22%
- bus bookings +38% YoY
- Radisson occupancy +5% YoY
- leisure occupancy ~75%
- Pickyourtrail enquiries +10-15%
- Leisure Hotels bookings +25%
Why this matters
Scout bolt-on acquisitions in drive-to leisure resorts, regional bus platforms, and Vietnam/Sri Lanka inbound DMCs to lock in share of the resilient sub-premium travel pivot.