CHENNAI: Flying abroad for holidays this summer may be the best thing because international air fares continue to cheaper than domestic fares.
This has widened the travel map of Chennaiites from the blind choice of countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka to include Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Travel agents say they have received a high number of enquiries on these three countries.
Though domestic passenger traffic has gone up by 25%, domestic fares have not come down. "Cheaper air fares make international travel less expensive than a domestic holiday. We do not have special offers for holiday season. But, if booked early, people get the best deal," said an Air India official.
When, last year, China, Hong Kong, Jordan and Greece found favour with individual and group travellers, this year Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos seem to the favourites," said Talha Rahman, a travel agent.
However, cost and lack of direct air connectivity is a stumbling block. As there is no direct flight, travellers have to travel via Singapore to find convenient connections to Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital.
But, the best way to travel will be to drive down from Bangkok to Cambodia, which is just seven hours by road. The three countries are smaller and can be covered in a short two-nights-three-days trip.
Low cost airlines like Tiger Airways from Chennai and Air Asia from Chennai, Tiruchirapalli and Thiruvananthapuram offer flights at low fares to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. This makes travel to these destinations cheaper. These airlines offer return tickets that are 50 % lower than the low fares offered by full service international airlines to South-East Asia. Return fare to Kuala Lumpur is just Rs 12,500 (approximate cost for any airline) if booked a month early for travel in April or May.
Angkor Wat, a giant, 12-century temple complex in Cambodia is a major draw. The online visa application procedure of this country is hassle-free. "Travellers can send their passport details and pay online using a credit card to get a visa to Cambodia. But, unlike popular perception, roads, transport system and hotels are quite good there," said Rahman, who visited Cambodia recently.
Unlike others, Chennaiites show a pattern in selecting international holidays. First-time travellers always prefer Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka because these countries are less expensive than a domestic vacation in north India. Second-time travellers prefer to explore Europe and the UK, said MK Ajith Kumar, president Asia Pacific Tours. Now, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Greece, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Jordan are also figuring in the itinerary of second-timers.