Summer travel picks up in Tamil Nadu, but trips get shorter amid rising costs

With polling over and as temperatures soar across Tamil Nadu, people are packing their bags to escape the heat with a quick holiday.

With airfares and travel costs rising amid global tensions, many travelers are choosing shorter, budget-friendly getaways closer to home, while others are turning to neighboring countries for affordable international trips.

“We’re clearly seeing a shift this summer. With rising airfares to Southeast Asia and nearby international destinations, many travellers are choosing to stay within India and opt for shorter, road-trip style getaways. The format is largely short-distance, short-duration, and self-driven, with camping-led trips becoming a preferred way to experience these routes,” said Swaminathan S, Co-founder, Exoticamp. “In Tamil Nadu, the recent elections briefly dampened long-holiday plans, but demand has picked up quickly post that,” he added.

Mr. Swaminathan further said that astro camping experiences in Hanle, India’s first dark sky reserve, are seeing strong interest, especially from families looking for unique, immersive stays. “We’re also seeing strong response to curated road-trip circuits that combine multiple destinations with a mix of camping and glamping experiences,” he noted.

Travel agents across Tamil Nadu say young travelers are increasingly letting Instagram and social media shape their holiday plans, with influencers spotlighting hidden locations and trending destinations. While Gen-Z travellers are busy planning budget trips through social media, it is business-class travellers and corporate professionals — armed with bigger budgets and a taste for convenience — who are driving demand at travel agencies this summer.

“We continue to see strong travel interest from Tamil Nadu travellers, with a clear preference for Eastbound and Far East destinations such as Japan, Vietnam, Singapore (including cruise holidays) and China,” said S.D. Nandakumar, President & Country Head - Holidays & Corporate Tours - SOTC Travel. “Domestic travel within India and the Indian subcontinent is seeing encouraging traction, with strong interest in destinations such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka. We anticipate greater travel interest post the election results,” he added.

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said that Kailash Mansarovar is witnessing renewed interest with the resumption of travel after a gap of five years, supported by the restart of direct flights to China. “Kashmir too is seeing a steady revival in interest, reflecting renewed traveller confidence. Overall, we are witnessing an encouraging and sustained momentum of travel interest from the Tamil Nadu market,” he noted.