With Holi just around the corner, the tourism sector is seeing a sharp increase in bookings. As per recent figures, there has been a sharp rise in bookings for buses, trains, and accommodations as people are booking trips to attend the festival or make the most of the long weekend. This trend showcases how travel in Holi has become a big event for both cultural and recreational travel.
Holi Travel: Steep Rise In Train And Bus Bookings
Bus ticketing website redBus has registered a 20% rise in seat bookings for the Holi weekend (March 12-16) from last week. The top demand is coming in from the following states:
- Gujarat – 47% rise in bookings
- Maharashtra & Goa – 27% rise in bookings
- Rajasthan – 26% rise in bookings
- Madhya Pradesh – 24% rise in bookings
- Tamil Nadu – 21% rise in bookings
Some of these places closely linked with Holi festivities have also witnessed significant growth in bookings. Mathura registered a 21% rise, Jaipur a 35%, and Hampi a whopping 208% hike in Holi week bookings compared to the previous year.
Train travel is also seeing a boom, with regions such as Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Kerala registering 25% growth in train booking compared to others. Spiritual destinations like Mathura, Vrindavan, Hampi, Shantiniketan, and Jaipur are witnessing 60% rise in train bookings.
Also Read: Holi Special Train 2025: North Western Railway To Run 62 Train Trips
Peak Travel Days And Passenger Trends
The most crowded travel day is likely to be March 13, a day prior to Holi, with 49% more seat bookings compared to the last week. Most travellers are either returning home for festivities or going on short trips.
On March 16, the Sunday following Holi, seat bookings are likely to increase by 25%, as tourists come back from their Holi celebrations.
Demographically, 69% of travellers are likely to be male and 31% female, with the AC seats being the most sought after, accounting for 70% of bookings. Most of the travellers are in the age group of 21-30 (37%), followed by 31-40 years of age (18%).
Holi Travel Trends In Local And Overseas Trips
There is a huge demand for premium accommodations that cost more than ₹4,500 per night, as per MakeMyTrip Co-Founder & Group CEO Rajesh Magow. Jaipur, Udaipur, Amritsar, Varanasi, Ujjain, Madurai, Pondicherry, and Alibaug are all experiencing steady growth. Drive-cation destinations: Jim Corbett, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Mahabaleshwar, and Coorg are also in vogue this season.
Domestically, popular short-haul destinations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are experiencing growing demand for travel. One of the reasons for the increase is the end of board exams, providing students and their families opportunities for short vacations.
Whether they are partying in cultural hubs or going on a leisure vacation, individuals are maximising the long weekend. With bookings going through the roof across sectors, Holi travel is likely to be more colourful and wanderlust than ever.
Also Read: From Vrindavan To Tokyo, Here’s Where Indians Are Heading For The Long Holi Weekend
Are you travelling this Holi? Tell us where you are going!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (For Representation)
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