PUNE, January 28: The hoiday crowd is raring to go regardless of fare wars or recession. Travel operaters aver that Puneites are now global holiday-goers. Sunder Travel Shoppe general manager Aranjit Lidder said, "There are more holiday-goers to Singapore and Bangkok, followed by Dubai and Europe in that order."A spokesperson from Air India's booking office here added that there is an increase in the number of tourists to places like Singapore because it is a favourite shopping haunt and the travel package is relatively cheaper at Rs 25,000 for a week (including stay), whereas a weekly package to Europe would work out to Rs 60,000 inclusive of stay. This has not deterred holiday-goers comprising mainly retired persons and couples in their thirties.
Shopping is obviously the aim, going by the destinations, with sight-seeing coming in a poor second. The peak season is from April to September, when schools and colleges are closed. Added incentives by airlines like free travel for spouses has added to theincreasing numbers of travellers.
About 60 per cent of the crowd travels to European package tours, while a meagre 35 per cent or so travel to America on such tours. Industry sources attributed this to the fact that tourists have friends and relatives in the US and therefore do not need to take a package tour.
Echoing the sentiments of their colleagues nationwide, tour operators denounced the lowered fare as a gimmick by airlines to increase their revenue. Sources claimed the discount is restricted to a particular class or seats and is offered only if the stipulated number of seats is not filled. Many travellers, unaware of this fact end up paying the full fare. This drop in air fares has not really affected their bookings, travel agents claimed, although they added the number of corporate travellers has decreased with the corporate budget cut due to recession and political instability.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
