Holi travel spike: Flights and buses record major gains

Holi week booking surge: flights and buses

ixigo data shows flight bookings rising by 70–75% year‑on‑year during the Holi week, while AbhiBus—the ixigo bus business—reports a 70% YoY increase in advance bus reservations. These headline figures reflect large-scale intercity movement and a pronounced shift toward multi‑day festive travel rather than one‑day observances.

City and corridor performance: granular figures

Smaller urban centres and popular leisure destinations together delivered the strongest gains. Growth concentrated in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets signals a continued diffusion of travel demand away from metro cores.

Key metric highlights

• Gorakhpur recorded the highest flight booking increase among smaller cities at 94% YoY.
• Udaipur and Dehradun led leisure travel growth at 94% and 90%, respectively.
• Among metros, Ahmedabad saw an exceptional 118% YoY rise in flight bookings.
• Women travellers contributed strongly to bus demand, with an 80% YoY increase in advance bookings by women, who make up nearly 40% of Holi‑period bus seats booked.

Bus networks and modal shifts

High train waitlists and limited seat availability pushed many travellers to road options. AbhiBus traffic data indicates major corridors growing >60% YoY, and certain Mumbai and Hyderabad corridors exceeding 70% YoY. This modal substitution highlights flexibility in traveller behaviour and the importance of resilient road networks during peak festive periods.

Operational impacts on transport providers

Transport operators and local authorities face several immediate operational challenges:

• Capacity management across airports and bus terminals to handle concentrated arrival/departure windows.
• Demand forecasting complications caused by mid‑week holiday timing and last‑minute itinerary changes.
• Increased requirement for staff, turn‑around efficiency and crowd management at regional airports and intercity bus stands.

Why Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are accelerating growth

Several structural and socio‑economic factors underpin the surge from non‑metro India:

• Greater disposable income and easier access to digital booking platforms such as ixigo.
• Improved regional air connectivity and the expansion of point‑to‑point bus services.
• Work‑from‑anywhere and flexible working patterns enabling longer festive getaways.
• Rising aspirations for short‑haul leisure travel to cultural and natural attractions.

Leisure hotspots: short‑haul demand and festival travel

Destinations traditionally associated with cultural festivals and scenic retreats captured disproportionate demand. Short‑haul leisure trips to places like Srinagar, Goa and Udaipur suggest travellers are combining family celebrations with tourism activities, boosting occupancy across hotels, day tours and regional transport services.

Historical context: festive travel and post‑pandemic recovery

Festive travel in India has been on a recovery trajectory since the reopening of large‑scale mobility after COVID‑19 restrictions were eased. Pre‑pandemic patterns favoured strong seasonal spikes around major holidays; the post‑pandemic era saw an initial lag and then a rapid bounce as pent‑up demand released. The current Holi surge can be seen as an acceleration of that recovery, amplified by improved digital distribution, low‑cost carrier network densification and the normalization of hybrid work schedules.

Evolution over the last five years

Flight capacity growth, regional airport investments and a maturing online travel ecosystem have collectively widened access. Bus operators invested in online advance booking tools and dynamic pricing, making intercity road travel more efficient and visible to consumers. Together, these changes mean that demand which once concentrated in metros now manifests widely across smaller urban centres and leisure nodes.

Short forecast: implications for tourism and related sectors

Looking ahead, several outcomes are likely if current trends persist:

• Continued decentralization of travel demand will increase the importance of regional transport infrastructure and secondary‑city tourism services.
• Accommodation and ancillary services in leisure hubs can expect higher advance bookings during festival seasons, strengthening local economies.
• Operators across air, road and rail will need to adopt more agile inventory management and cross‑modal coordination to capture peak‑period demand profitably.

Effects on boating and coastal tourism (contextual note)

While the current Holi surge primarily involves air and bus travel across inland corridors and popular hill/coastal leisure spots, an indirect impact on coastal and lake‑based recreation is possible. Increased domestic mobility and a preference for multi‑day getaways could boost interest in water‑based activities at popular destinations, supporting marinas, fishing excursions and day‑boat operations in later seasons.

In summary, Holi 2026 has triggered a pronounced mobility uptick: flights up 70–75% YoY and advance bus bookings up ~70% YoY, led by Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, leisure hotspots and growing female participation in bus travel. The combination of regional connectivity gains and flexible work patterns is reshaping festive tourism demand, with operational pressure on transport networks and rising opportunities for destination services.

GetBoat.com is always keeping an eye on the latest tourism news. The Holi travel surge signals shifting patterns that can influence everything from local beach and lake activities to yachting and boating interest in coastal Destinations. Operators and travellers alike should watch trends in charter demand, marinas, superyacht and small craft activity, as well as related services like fishing trips, captains and on‑water activities that benefit from increased tourist flows during festival seasons.