Long weekends spur short holidays

Lalit Patki celebrated India’s World Cup win at a quiet beach in Phuket away from madness that unfolded on Mumbai’s streets on Saturday night.

Lalit Patki celebrated India’s World Cup win at a quiet beach in Phuket away from madness that unfolded on Mumbai’s streets on Saturday night.

HT Image

The executive with the consumer goods firm is an avid cricket lover but did not want to waste the long weekend that ends only on Monday with Gudi Padwa, the Maharashtrian new year.

“Long weekends are rare these days. I suddenly planned this four-day trip to Bangkok,” said the 37-year-old Mulund resident.

Travel agents have witnessed a 30% increase in short-vacation bookings owing to several public holidays this month.

“We are getting plenty of bookings for trips to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Mauritius over the next two weekends,” said Rajesh Rateria, western region chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India.

The next long weekend begins with Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14, that falls on a Thursday.

Mahavir Jayanti, another public holiday follows on the April 16.

“All I had to do was to take one casual leave and I could plan a short vacation to Dubai,” said Girish Behl, who runs a transport business in the city.

The last weekend of the month is Good Friday on April 22.

Travel portal Yatra.com has also witnessed a spur in domestic holiday bookings during weekends this month.

“Weekend bookings are 30% above normal,” said Sabina Chopra, co-founder and EVP operations, Yatra.com.

“These days people are experimenting with niche destinations such as Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh, Landsdowne in Uttarakhand and Naukuchiatal located near the Himalayas,” Chopra added.