PRAYAGRAJ: As the mercury shoots up in the plains, Prayagraj denizens with a passion for promenade are swift to ensure advanced bookings for Kashmir, North East, Goa and Kerela. City-based travel agents too claimed travellers are making more constant inquires for Kashmir, Goa and North East and they are even ready to shell out extra bucks to get their bookings done to spend the summer holidays.
Rahul Khare, director of a travel agency told TOI that travellers from Sangam city are making prior bookings for domestic sites for April, May and June months. He added that the majority of travellers have discovered Gangtok and other North East destinations as a refreshing alternative.
He, however, claimed bookings for foreign countries like UAE and Maldives are also open but city-based travellers are preferring domestic sites this year because of fewer travel restrictions. The fact is that hotels in the hilly region are getting booked in advance for March and April.
Khare, meanwhile, said that this was the first time when Gangtok is attracting adventurous folks bored of being largely confined to their homes for a year due to the pandemic. The peaceful atmosphere and picturesque beauty are some factors for attracting tourists towards North-East destinations.
Bunty, another travel agent, said, “The continuing curbs on international flights have given a boost to tourism in domestic destinations”. There has been a section of travellers from the city seeking bookings for Goa and Kerela. As exams of many city-based schools ( except 10 and 12 boards) are finishing in March second or third week, travellers are in a queue to make prior booking for preferred destinations.
Civil Lines resident Vinay Mehrotra said, “With the mercury rising in plains every passing day, we have planned a trip to Northeast in the third week of this month to spend good time with family”. Another traveller Vineet Dwivedi said, “I, along with my family has planned a trip for Kerela in April first week.”