Delay in Maha poll date announcement casts shadow on Diwali travel plans, bookings down 20-30% as against last year

Pune: To travel or not to travel. The looming state election has made this a pressing concern among travellers this Diwali vacation. So much so that travel firms are staring at a 20-30% drop in bookings as compared to the last festive season.
"We are seeing a marked reluctance among travellers to commit to Diwali plans... Many seem to be postponing their trips, potentially eyeing post-Nov travel instead," Rishikesh Pujari, director of Vihar Travels, said.
The Election Commission of India had earlier indicated that the Maharashtra assembly election would be held after the Diwali festivities (Nov 1) and before Nov 26. The delay in the announcement of exact dates have, however, cast a shadow over the festive travel this year.
"There is hesitation among govt and bank employees, who constitute 10-15% of travel firm clientele. They may have to be present for election duties and are therefore keeping Diwali travel plans in abeyance. Diwali travel is often a 10 or more days' affair. Many citizens, especially the seniors, are prioritizing their presence in their home constituencies to cast their votes," Pujari said.
Bhagyashree Travels' director Sunil Gole said, "Some travellers are delaying plans to witness or be part of local campaign events or rallies. There are also concerns about potential election-related disturbances, influencing decisions."
Gole said Diwali bookings at his firm had dropped by about 20% in comparison to the last Diwali. "Even those in the middle and upper-middle class are hesitant to travel during the election period. These travellers are waiting for the election dates to be announced before making any plans. We anticipate the scenario will change rapidly once the election dates are declared, as people will then have clarity on when to schedule their Diwali travel," he said.
Pawan Sachdeva, director of Pacific Travels, told TOI: "We usually see inquiry rush and bookings about 20 days before Diwali, which isnoticeably absent this year. One major factor contributing to this drop and indecision is the delay in announcing assembly election dates. People are considering postponing their trips to the Christmas vacation period, even though elections are likely to be held around mid-Nov."
Sachdeva said, "Those who are not postponing the travel plans are opting for very short breaks during Diwali. Such people are opting for nearby destinations like Vietnam or Bhutan, to ensure they can return in time for the election period. As a result, Diwali bookings at our firm have dropped by about 30% as compared to the last year."
Harshada Dholepatil, the owner of Kingston Travels, said: "We recently had a group tour to Europe cancelled owing to the impending election, though the exact dates remain unclear. This group included govt officials, their families and individuals associated with political parties. They were planning a trip for around Nov 3. When the news surfaced about potential election dates being announced, they decided to postpone their travel plans."
Vijay Thakkar, director of Hasmukh Travels, told said, "Three of our clients are holding off on booking Diwali travel tickets, stating they'll wait until election dates are announced. These are families and friends of political party members who feel they need to be present to support candidates. Others planning to stay in the city include businesses involved in selling election paraphernalia and similar individuals and families. Such segments constitute 10-15% of our clientele."
Not all travel agencies are experiencing the same level of impact. Nikhil Thakurdas, CEO, Odyssey Tours and Travels, told TOI, "While there's some uncertainty, we're not seeing a significant drop in Diwali bookings. Most people anticipate the election to be held around mid-Nov, well after the Diwali holiday period of Oct 24 to Nov 10."