Soaking up the sun in Santorini? A dose of history in Berlin, perhaps? Oh wait, no! How about tea with Santa Claus in Lapland?
It's that time of the year when you rustle through travel brochures, look up destinations online, and go back and forth deciding among countries, trying to choose the ultimate summer holiday destination. But, amid scores of geographic and budgetary options, this year the travel scene has got off to a turbulent start, with natural disasters and political unrest cordoning off certain areas of the globe, and causing painfully made plans to be scrapped.
“I have lost out on a group of 70. They were to visit Egypt but because of the conflict there, the group called off the trip,” says P. Raghunath, executive director, Pegasus Travels and Tours.
A lot of holidaymakers are steering clear of North Africa and the Middle East, fearing inconvenience. Overcautious travellers have even excluded the much-democratic Turkey from their list of holiday spots, fearing political unrest, given the nation's proximity to strife-torn countries.
But, not surprisingly, the most affected destination has been Japan. “A family had finalised its trip to Japan. Tokyo, Osaka, Nagasaki, Okaya were on the list of places they wanted to visit, but the catastrophe struck the island barely a day after they booked, and they cancelled,” says Raghunath.
Although other islands in the South Pacific belt have been given an all-clear, people are still a little sceptical. “As a result, Australia has faced a drop in tourists. Prior to this, there was the flood that left Queensland crippled. New Zealand, on the other hand, despite being in the same belt, is getting quite a few visitors. They are promoting themselves quite well,” says Swarnarekha, regional manager (Chennai), Orbitz Corporate and Leisure Travel India.
With some of the popular holiday spots becoming literally out of bounds, what are the options for the traveller this summer?
Alaska appears to be emerging the cool new favourite. “This year, I have had quite a few clients opting for Alaska. It's a fairly expensive vacation. If you are going to the interiors of the State, it would cost you anything between Rs. 3.50 lakh and Rs 3.75 lakh,” informs Raghunath. This is a custom-made tour, and if your bank balance permits, you can include whale-watching in Juneau, grizzlies catching salmon at the Katmai National Park, a trip to the Tundra wilderness zone and tracking polar bears. “Those travelling to this part of the globe have to book at least four months in advance because the tour operates only from May 25 to September 20. After that, everything closes down in Alaska,” adds Raghunath.
Escorted tours
For those who prefer group escorted tours, there is the 19-day Canadian Rockies and Alaska Cruise that Club 7 Holidays offers. “It costs Rs. 3.25 lakh, and has takers. Other popular choices are our Russia, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe packages,” says N. Ramesh, brand manager (Chennai), Club 7 Holidays.
Agrees Kruti Sharma, spokesperson for Thomas Cook. “Scandinavian countries, with their scenic locales and rich history, seem to be gaining popularity. At the same time, Hawaii, in spite of being an expensive destination, is also enjoying a good flow of tourists from Chennai,” she says.
Adventure and wildlife also remain in fashion. “We had a few people who wanted to see the gorillas in Uganda. So, we are trying to organise a trip there, and are waiting for the permit. But, there are certain conditions. You can't go if you have a cold or flu,” says Raghunath. South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia are some of the newer locations travellers are opening up to, rather than opting for the run-of-the-mill U.S. and Europe packages.
Singapore, ever popular
Of course, the likes of Singapore and Malaysia remain ever-popular. “This is because, psychologically, travellers like to visit these destinations before opting for new places,” reasons Swarnarekha.
There are also travellers whose idea of a holiday is to relax and soak in the culture and atmosphere rather than sprint around clicking photographs. Hence, an increase in customised tours. And, if you want to live it up, what better way than to be chauffeured around in a private sedan. “We have introduced van tour options where a family of six can go around cities in limos and have the chauffeur at their disposal all times,” says Swarnarekha. The damage to the pocket? “Approximately Rs. 2 lakh for a week,” she smiles.
