Kolkata, Oct. 16 -- Actor Ritwick Chakraborty packed his bags and left for Himachal Pradesh on Shasthi with his wife and teenage son. The family will return on Lakshmi Puja. Like Ritwick, Annapurna Chakraborty, a retired state government official, makes it a point to explore a new destination every Puja. On Saptami, she and her family of five will embark on a nine-day trip to offbeat Arunachal Pradesh. If food and adda are synonymous with Durga Puja, so is Bengalis' love for travel. While some opt for quick getaways and weekend breaks, others plan longer holidays.
Goa, Rajasthan, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Lakshadweep are drawing domestic tourists this festive season. Internationally, Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore, along with Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, are attracting travellers.
However, travel agencies across the city report relatively lower business than in previous years, attributing the slowdown largely to rising fuel costs. The increase in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices amid the West Asia conflict has made air travel more expensive during the peak festive season.
Vishal Bhawnani, a travel expert who runs an agency in south Kolkata, said rising fuel surcharges had affected the domestic market. "A return flight between Kolkata and Goa costs around Rs 26,000. So, travellers are choosing to spend a little more and opt for international destinations," he said. While Vietnam, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Lakshadweep have seen good demand, overall business has dipped. Dubai, usually a popular choice, has also taken a hit. Travel expert Chandramouli Thakur echoed similar concerns. "Domestically, the travel sector is suffering due to fuel costs, high taxes and hotel prices," he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.