Gujaratis are expected to spend approximately ₹500 crore this year on tours, with many starting to book their trips up to three months in advance. In Gujarat, inquiries and bookings for Diwali vacations began in June this year.
Long waiting periods are already in place for ticket reservations, as the Railways alone has over 500 waiting lists for ticket bookings.
During the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, the tourism industry experienced a decline due to health concerns. However, in the last two years, the industry has started to rebound.
Many people prefer holidays in the cooler weather over summer trips. As per industry experts, , Gujaratis spent ₹400 crore on summer vacations, and it is expected that spending will reach ₹500 crore this winter.
For the well-to-do, the preferred holiday destinations include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Malaysia, Krabi, Thailand, Phuket, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. In contrast, tourism to the Maldives has seen a decline from India due to ongoing diplomatic issues
Sources from the industry indicate that demand for international destinations has increased, partly because of the availability of more direct flights. For instance, there are at least 14 direct flights to Dubai and nine to Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Bali.
Among domestic inquiries, the most inquired destinations included Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Kashmir, the Northeast, and Himachal Pradesh.