Forget Kerala. Holiday in Hong Kong

This Diwali, you can make up for the summer holiday that you might have skipped because of the economic slowdown. Tour operators have slashed rates, as have airlines, to entice travellers.

This Diwali, you can make up for the summer holiday that you might have skipped because of the economic slowdown.

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Tour operators have slashed rates, as have airlines, to entice travellers.

A 10-day package to Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia from Raj Travels will cost you Rs 20,000 less than what it would have cost you last year.

“We are offering a package worth Rs 80,000 for Rs 60,000 during Diwali this year,” said Lalit Seth, chairman and managing director. “Most travellers are taking up the three to 10-day tours.”

Cox and Kings is giving up to 50 per cent cash back on world tours. A family of three, including a child, can take an 11-day tour of Europe — covering five countries — worth over Rs 3 lakh for half the price.

Travellers who don’t want packaged tours can also get good deals with reduced airfares. A return trip from Hong Kong will cost Rs 12,000 less than last year while a similar trip to Singapore is Rs 8,000 cheaper.

“Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Air India and Cathay Airways are offering a return fare of Rs 15,000,” said Anoop Kanuga, chairman (western region), Travel Agents Association of India.

Bookings show that domestic travellers too are going abroad. “A family that would have visited Kerala last year is doing a Hong Kong-Macau trip now,” said Kanuga.

With few western tourists, 5-star properties like Sheraton Hotels and Marriott International have cut rates by about 15 per cent, thus encouraging this trend, added Kanuga.