Unfazed by downturn, Indians on backpacking mode

With the economy showing signs of revival, the country's travel industry is betting big on a strong demand upsurge for the coming holiday season as Indians gear up to head for international destinations like Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Thailand.

With the economy showing signs of revival, the country's travel industry is betting big on a strong demand upsurge for the coming holiday season as Indians gear up to head for international destinations like Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Thailand.

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Leading travel agencies say they are already seeing a large number of families inquiring about their holiday trips, both domestic and overseas, around the last week of this year and first week of 2010.

Most sought after domestic destinations this season are Kerala, Goa, Manali and Shimla while global travellers are going to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Thailand and Hong Kong during Christmas holidays, they say.

Some travel agents have also slashed their prices for this season by up to one-fourth to attract those still cautious to spend big bucks on their holidays.

"Travel industry is one of the few sectors that is recovering from recession very fast, as people are willing to spend on holiday trips a lot more than last year," says Kashmira Commissariat, chief operating officer (outbound division) of leading travel service provider SOTC.

"People are looking at the current situation as an opportunity to avail the best deals that were not available before and may not be available in the future. Keeping this in mind, most of the companies have slashed their prices by 20-25 per cent as compared to last year," Commissariat told PTI.

According to Karan Anand of another major travel firm Cox and Kings Ltd, travel activities have gone up this year, especially this holiday season, and bookings for tour packages have increased by about 20 per cent over the last year.