Domestic travel costs soar as foreign trips take back seat amid geopolitical tensions
Hyderabad: With international travel plans taking a back seat this summer due to ongoing geopolitical conditions, a large number of residents are turning to domestic holiday destinations and paying a premium for them. Airfares, hotel tariffs , and holiday package prices have surged dramatically over the past few weeks, leaving many travellers shocked by the cost of vacations within the country.
Travel agencies in Hyderabad report that flight ticket prices to top tourist destinations have increased by almost two to three times compared to the same period last year. Routes connecting Hyderabad to Srinagar , Bagdogra , Leh , and Guwahati are witnessing the highest demand.
A round-trip ticket from Hyderabad to Srinagar, which earlier cost between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000 during the peak season, is now touching nearly Rs 60,000 on certain dates. Similarly, fares to Leh and Bagdogra have climbed sharply as travellers rush to book summer holidays before schools reopen.
Many Hyderabad residents say they were unprepared for the sharp rise in domestic travel expenses this year. “We planned a week-long family trip to Shimla via Delhi, thinking it would cost much less than an international vacation, but the airfare alone consumed nearly half our budget,” said Ritvikh Sharma, IT professional from Gachibowli.
According to tour operators, limited airline capacity and last-minute bookings are adding further pressure on prices. People who usually plan trips to Europe, Thailand, or Dubai are now choosing destinations such as Kashmir , Himachal Pradesh, and the Northeast. Demand has gone up beyond expectations, they said.
“The surge in domestic tourism is not limited to flights alone. Hotels and resorts across major tourist destinations are witnessing near-full occupancy levels for May and June. Packages to popular hill stations, such as Shimla, Manali, Darjeeling, and Gangtok, have seen a 40% rise. In Kashmir, for instance, a package with budget hotels is costing Rs 40,000 per person,” said P Nagesh, president, AP & Telangana chapter, Travel Agents Association of India .
On the other hand, international travel from Hyderabad has slowed noticeably this season. Travel operators attribute the trend to geopolitical tensions and concerns over global instability. “The demand for destinations that traditionally attract Indian tourists during summer, including Southeast Asia and the Middle East, is very low compared to previous years. Several travellers are also opting to postpone overseas vacations. Families are preferring shorter domestic trips instead of long-haul foreign vacations this year. Many feel local travel is safer and easier to manage right now,” said Moez Meghani, owner of Max Travels.
AC coachers on trains fully booked
Amid rising temperatures, AC coaches on almost all trains are running at full capacity for the next two weeks. Even premium trains such as the Vande Bharat Express, which offer only seating facilities, are witnessing heavy demand and are going full days ahead of departure. Destinations such as Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Chennai have emerged among the most sought-after routes this summer season, with passengers preferring AC travel to escape the intense heat.
Travel agencies in Hyderabad report that flight ticket prices to top tourist destinations have increased by almost two to three times compared to the same period last year. Routes connecting Hyderabad to Srinagar , Bagdogra , Leh , and Guwahati are witnessing the highest demand.
A round-trip ticket from Hyderabad to Srinagar, which earlier cost between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000 during the peak season, is now touching nearly Rs 60,000 on certain dates. Similarly, fares to Leh and Bagdogra have climbed sharply as travellers rush to book summer holidays before schools reopen.
Many Hyderabad residents say they were unprepared for the sharp rise in domestic travel expenses this year. “We planned a week-long family trip to Shimla via Delhi, thinking it would cost much less than an international vacation, but the airfare alone consumed nearly half our budget,” said Ritvikh Sharma, IT professional from Gachibowli.
According to tour operators, limited airline capacity and last-minute bookings are adding further pressure on prices. People who usually plan trips to Europe, Thailand, or Dubai are now choosing destinations such as Kashmir , Himachal Pradesh, and the Northeast. Demand has gone up beyond expectations, they said.
“The surge in domestic tourism is not limited to flights alone. Hotels and resorts across major tourist destinations are witnessing near-full occupancy levels for May and June. Packages to popular hill stations, such as Shimla, Manali, Darjeeling, and Gangtok, have seen a 40% rise. In Kashmir, for instance, a package with budget hotels is costing Rs 40,000 per person,” said P Nagesh, president, AP & Telangana chapter, Travel Agents Association of India .
On the other hand, international travel from Hyderabad has slowed noticeably this season. Travel operators attribute the trend to geopolitical tensions and concerns over global instability. “The demand for destinations that traditionally attract Indian tourists during summer, including Southeast Asia and the Middle East, is very low compared to previous years. Several travellers are also opting to postpone overseas vacations. Families are preferring shorter domestic trips instead of long-haul foreign vacations this year. Many feel local travel is safer and easier to manage right now,” said Moez Meghani, owner of Max Travels.
AC coachers on trains fully booked
Amid rising temperatures, AC coaches on almost all trains are running at full capacity for the next two weeks. Even premium trains such as the Vande Bharat Express, which offer only seating facilities, are witnessing heavy demand and are going full days ahead of departure. Destinations such as Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Chennai have emerged among the most sought-after routes this summer season, with passengers preferring AC travel to escape the intense heat.
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