The Financial Express
Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and Australia gaining popularity.

MUMBAI: Blue water, shimmering lights, bustling malls and wondrous sights. Holiday fever has hit the travel and tourism sector again. Industry officials are looking at a 15 per cent growth over the past two years this season alone.

Indians travelling overseas this year are sticking to the favoured Europe circuit for long holidays and the exotic locales of Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia for those quick shopping trips. The more adventurous are looking at destinations like South Africa and Australia which seem to be gaining popularity as the days progress and bookings increase.

Cox & Kings head business development Gopi Iengar said that Europe has been heavily booked and the inquiries keep pouring in. However, South Africa as a destination has been picking up with the summer season kicking off in earnest.
"First time travellers are, however, still sticking to Malaysia as a shopping-cum-beach destination," Mr Iengar added.

He said that what is emerging as an interesting trend is that the Indian traveller is emerging from a quantitative to a more discerning traveller who wants quality from every holiday he takes.
SOTC chief operating officer Mahesh Shirodkar said that the outbound travel industry is booming and the number of Indian tourists travelling abroad this year will outshine the numbers that travelled internationally in the last two years.
He added that the demand from last year's pent-up travel will be the driving factor that will define the bulk of bookings.
"This spillover as well as the innovative initiatives undertaken this year to tap the immense outbound market will bring about a definite increase in international travel," Mr Shirodkar said.
SOTC World Famous Tours has booked nearly 8,000 customers till date on their summer offer for destination Europe.
"In comparison to last year, South East Asia is doing very well this time round, and will register 15 per cent growth over 2003," feels Mr Shirodkar.

A Thomas Cook official said that on an average, roughly 3,000-4,000 bookings are made for Europe per season and this year, the destination seems to be doing very well.
"A lot of enquiries are also coming for Australia though the Far Eastern destinations have still not lost their popularity," the official added.
A Coxs & Kings official added that roughly 60-100 bookings are made per day for Europe and the company's Europe tours have been selling like hot cakes.
"First, we had our Super Apex package and then the Apex package which have all been sold out. We are now offering another package to Europe," he added.
Out of the European circuit, London, Switzerland, Italy and Paris are the must-see cities on the Indian traveller's mind this summer.

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