Weak Rupee forces travel rethink
The adverse exchange rates and depreciation of Indian rupee seem to impact the international travellers very much. They switch within the hotel category to offset the adverse exchange rates, as per latest survey.
This came to light by analysing the data trails of users of the wego.co.in website, which compares the inventory of several travel sites simultaneously, including Expedia, ClearTrip, Stayzilla and Arzoo.
The users of this travel site reflect the country’s growing concern over the impact of the exchange rate and rupee depreciation on international travel. It was found that travellers are working to reduce their costs.
In Bangkok, about a year ago for instance, the rupee was under Rs1.5 equivalent to the Thai Baht. Now it is Rs1.7. Hotel bookings, however, have risen almost by 2 per cent – and the volume has doubled on Wego, attracted by deals and packages rather than downgrades and in turn assisting the city’s recovery following damaging floods.
Phuket and particularly Pattaya enjoy much more attention due to low season prices, and airfares at half the cost of those to Bali. Pattaya has risen from under 1 to a strong 4 per cent of international hotel bookings, with the Amari Orchid Hotel at Rs4,662 per night and Ibis at Rs2,461 currently the most popular.
Comparison of trends in Singapore, Dubai, Australia – the more expensive destination, and New York & London remaining favoured destinations, indicate that Indians continue to travel, but exercise caution in selecting their options instead of cancelling travel plans, according to Wego general manager for India, Jackson Fernandez.
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