Market Trends and Consumer Behavior

Thomas Cook India Limited and its Group Company SOTC Travel are observing that festivals are increasingly shaping travel decisions among Indian travelers. Regional celebrations have emerged as key holiday travel drivers, with travelers aligning holidays with specific regional festivals:

  • Onam in Kerala
  • Pongal in Tamil Nadu
  • Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra
  • Navratri in Gujarat
  • Durga Puja in Eastern India
  • Mysore Dasara in Karnataka
  • Dussehra across North India
  • Diwali celebrated pan-India

Travelers are combining celebrations with spiritual journeys, cultural immersions, family holidays, and international getaways, transforming traditional festive occasions into travel experiences.

Regional Source Markets

The trend is evident across India's key source markets with specific regional patterns:

  • Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram: Leveraging Onam holidays
  • Chennai and Coimbatore: Utilizing Pongal break for vacations
  • Mumbai and Pune: Festive travel around Ganesh Chaturthi
  • Ahmedabad and Vadodara: Holidays aligned with Navratri celebrations
  • Kolkata and Bhubaneswar: Key travel hubs during Durga Puja
  • Bengaluru and Mysuru: Travelers extending Mysore Dasara holidays
  • Delhi NCR and Jaipur: Planning holidays around Dussehra
  • Diwali inspires travel across metros including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Hyderabad

Spiritual and Cultural Travel Demand

Festivals remain connected to faith and tradition, driving demand for specific destinations:

  • Vrindavan and Mathura: Heightened interest during Janmashtami with temple rituals, devotional music, and cultural performances
  • Kolkata: Attracts travelers during Durga Puja with elaborate pandals, street food, cultural performances, and heritage walks
  • Varanasi: Increased interest during Diwali and Dev Deepawali
  • Mysuru: Draws visitors for iconic Dasara celebrations

International Travel Trends

Festive holidays are serving as launchpads for international travel with clear destination preferences:

  • Europe: Preferred choice for aspirational travelers seeking culture, history, and scenic landscapes during autumn season
  • Southeast Asia: Strong demand from families and first-time international travelers to Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia
  • Long-haul destinations: Growing interest in Japan, China, Egypt, South Africa, and UAE for unique cultural experiences and natural landscapes

Experience-Led Travel Evolution

The defining characteristic of festive travel is the shift toward experience-led holidays where travelers prioritize meaningful activities over traditional sightseeing. Examples include:

  • Participating in tea ceremonies in Japan
  • Witnessing cultural performances in Bali
  • Cruising through Ha Long Bay in Vietnam
  • Exploring ancient wonders in Egypt
  • Discovering local traditions across Europe

Multi-Generational Travel Growth

Festive periods are seeing rise in multi-generational travel with parents, children, and grandparents traveling together. Preferred destinations for family groups include:

  • Singapore and Malaysia
  • Dubai and Abu Dhabi
  • Bali
  • Japan
  • Europe

These destinations are preferred for their accessibility, comfort, and experiences suitable for different age groups, contributing to longer trip durations.

Management Commentary

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited stated: "Festivals have become one of the strongest drivers of holiday planning for Indian travellers, with regional celebrations increasingly influencing when and where people choose to travel. We are witnessing strong demand across key source markets from Onam in Kerala and Pongal in Tamil Nadu to Durga Puja in Eastern India, Dussehra across Karnataka and North India, and Diwali celebrated across the country."

Mr. SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel added: "Festivals are no longer just occasions to return home, they are increasingly becoming opportunities to celebrate in new places and create new traditions with loved ones. Today's travellers are looking beyond conventional holidays, choosing experiences that are immersive, enriching and memorable."

Company Background

Thomas Cook (India) Limited is India's leading omnichannel travel services company offering services including Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel and Value-Added Services. The company operates multiple brands including Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, SITA, Asian Trails, Allied TPro, Australian Tours Management, Desert Adventures, Travel Circle International Limited, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, Distant Frontiers, TC Tours, Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging, Go Vacation, Private Safaris East & South Africa.

The Thomas Cook India Group spans 28 countries across 5 continents and is one of the largest travel service provider networks headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region. Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, is the promoter of TCIL with 63.83% shareholding.