Travel demand is rising ahead of Diwali, with Indians increasingly choosing offbeat getaways and regional hubs for their festive holidays. According to Cleartrip’s PeekABoo travel trends tracker, flight bookings among travellers aged 15–24 have increased by 60%, while bus bookings have grown by up to 80% in several cities.
Leisure hotel bookings for Diwali have also risen by 135%, reflecting strong demand for festive travel across destinations and budgets.
Hotel bookings see strong growth
Leisure hotel bookings have increased by 135% for Diwali so far and by 66% for Navratri, according to Cleartrip. Udaipur has recorded a 316% rise in Diwali hotel bookings. Bookings in Bengaluru and Jaipur have also increased significantly, growing by 189% and 174%, respectively.
The rise in demand extends across hotel categories. Budget accommodation bookings have grown by 201%, followed by luxury properties at 162%, mid-range stays at 148% and premium hotels at 114%. The figures indicate increased demand across different price segments during the festive period.
Gen Z drives flight booking growth
Younger travellers are contributing to the increase in air travel. Flight bookings among people aged 15–24 have risen by 60%, compared with 6% among those aged 25–34. Cleartrip also reported a 44% increase in women’s share of bookings over the same period.
Several domestic destinations have recorded strong growth in flight bookings. Agatti leads with a 130% increase, followed by Gaya at 98% and Dimapur at 80%. Udaipur has recorded 59% growth, while Dibrugarh saw a 37% rise. Bookings to Gorakhpur increased by 34%, Jabalpur by 29%, Imphal by 24% and Dehradun by 9%.
Bus travel rises ahead of the festive season
Bus bookings have also increased as people travel to their hometowns for the festive season. Delhi recorded an 80% rise, followed by Pune at 76%, Nagpur at 68%, Chennai at 63% and Mumbai at 57%.
Indians explore emerging international destinations
In addition to the usual tourist hotspots, international travel demand is also growing. Taipei recorded a 146% increase in flight bookings, followed by Cebu at 117%, Dublin at 110% and Phu Quoc at 106%. Osaka also saw a 74% rise.
