Winter is upon us, and one might assume that travellers might prefer warmer places this New Year. But if the latest reports by OYO is anything to do by, then it’s safe to say that this season vacationers are going for the chill (quite literally). The Gurgaon-based hospitality company revealed that it has recorded a 133 per cent increase in bookings from solo travellers to cold destinations as compared to the same period last year. The OYO Travel Index 2018 also revealed that Shimla tops the list of cold destinations followed by Shillong, Gangtok, Mussoorie, Ooty and Dalhousie, among others. In total, they have recorded 104 per cent higher bookings this season.
On the norm side, beach destinations like Goa, Puri, Pondicherry, Port-Blair, Alappuzha and Digha top the list. These destinations have seen a 66 per cent increase in bookings as compared to the 2017 winter holiday season. Interestingly, colder destinations are witnessing an increasing trend of couples as well as family vacationers when compared to beach destinations. The travel index reveals that there is a 99 per cent increase in couple and 106 per cent in family travellers to colder cities whereas the increase is 71 per cent and 63 per cent for couple and family travellers, respectively, to cities with beaches.
Speaking about the emerging trend, Burhanuddin Pithawala, Vice President, Conversions, OYO Hotels & Homes, said, “Technology is playing a huge role allowing all travellers – solo, couples, and as well as families and friends to make and change plans in a jiffy with the help of their phones. Interestingly, solo travellers are the most significant contributors to bookings this holiday season. We see this trend increasing every year.” The OYO analysis also reveals that in the North of India, Delhi, Jaipur, Shimla and Udaipur are the top destinations, whereas in South India, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pondicherry, Kochi, Mysore and Ooty are the favourites in 2018.