India's Heatwave Has Record Numbers of Travelers Flying Outbound — India Report

05.06.2024 - 13:03 / skift.com / Air Canada / Ritesh Agarwal / Bulbul Dhawan

Indian travelers have been booking outbound flights from major Indian airports in record numbers in a bid to escape the extreme heatwave, according to travel company Trevolution Group’s data. 

The company witnessed a 64% annual increase in the sale of outbound flights last month. 

Heatwave Conditions and International Travel: Most parts of north India are facing a heatwave with temperatures rising up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in some places. The situation is expected to continue until the monsoon begins in the region. 

North Indians have been traveling to nearby destinations, such as Manali, Kasol, and Shimla, which typically have a cooler temperature during summer months. Bus ticketing platform redBus reported a 55% surge in demand for bus tickets from Delhi during the summer this year. However, these areas also experienced heatwave conditions in the last week of May, with an average increase of 2-3 degree celsius in their temperatures. 

This has led to Indians choosing to travel internationally to escape the heat. 

Where Are Travelers Going? As per Trevolution Group’s latest ticket sales data from India, travelers prefer to travel to Italy, Greece and Portugal, as well as the United Kingdom, which saw up to a 59% increase in outbound airfare sales compared to the same period last year.

“As May is still considered a shoulder month across most of Europe, these destinations are considered among the safest choices for air passengers looking to find more moderate weather conditions,” the company said in a statement. 

Reduced Inbound Travel: The sale of inbound flights to India declined to 37% in May as compared to the April 2024 figures, Trevolution date revealed. 

“While in previous years, India was one the most popular travel locations for foreign visitors during spring and summer months with sales usually reaching the highest numbers around May, the extreme weather conditions have led to air passengers being a lot more cautious when booking their flights,” it said. 

Hotel aggregator chain Oyo has opened a cricket-themed hotel in Bengaluru — CricOtel. The hotel features 15 rooms that showcase India’s greatest achievements in the sport including the 1983 and 2011 World Cup wins, said founder Ritesh Agarwal.

The launch has come as Indian cricket fans are recovering from the frenzy of the Indian Premier League 2024 tournament and gearing up for India’s first T20 World Cup match on Wednesday.

The hotel aims to capitalize on Indians’ love for sports, especially cricket, as they are looking for experiences around sports. Online travel companies are witnessing a surge in sports tourism in India, with Indian travelers combining their love for sports with increased spending power. 

Air