The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way we travel in more ways than one. Terms like 'workations' and 'schoolcations' have become legit trends. What is also gaining ground rapidly is the concept of shorter travel destinations and &lsquodriveaways&rsquo.
Solo travellers, families, friends&mdasheveryone's preferring to drive down to nearby getaways for a short period of time to relax. According to a survey conducted by Booking.com&mdashone of the world&rsquos leading digital travel players&mdashpeople have been taking smaller journeys, and discovering (or rediscovering) heaps of wonderful experiences closer home.
Many places adjoining big metro cities have become the chosen destinations as people no longer venture out to far-off places for vacations. Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bhuvaneshwar, and other cities, all have smaller weekend getaways which are ideal for short trips and breaks.
Road trips have become a trend. Even state tourism departments are promoting them.
Regarding accommodation choices, the survey has found that travellers have mostly been choosing motels, guest houses, homestays, villas and lodges. Budget stay options have topped the charts this year.
The travel patterns of Indians in the last few months reveal that the average distance Indians travelled between June and August 2020 is down by 56 per cent compared with the same time last year, which is slightly lower than the global average of 63 per cent. Also looking back at the same time last year, while Indian travellers journeyed 1,786 km per booking on an average, in 2020, that distance has dropped to just 780 km.