Singapore tops Diwali holiday spot list: Survey

With Diwali vacations round the corner, Indians have started packing their bags to celebrate the festival overseas.

The most sought after destination is Singapore, followed by Macau and Hong Kong, South Africa, Dubai and Turkey, as these countries have a considerable Indian population, found a survey done by international travel consulting agency Thomas Cook.

This Diwali, Singapore will witness an increase of over 45% inflow of Indian tourists as compared to last year. The Singaporean authorities are also organising events such as The Festival Village, The UTSAV Street Parade and the Fire-Walking Festival, so that the Indian tourists do not miss home.

The tourists also do not miss places like Little India on Serangoon Road, which celebrate the festival with pomp.

Macau and Hong Kong, the two special administrative regions of China that are largely dependent on gambling and tourism, are the second most preferred holiday destination for Indian travellers.

South Africa stands third on the list while Dubai comes at the fourth position and  Turkey the fifth.

Madhav Pai, director-Leisure Travel (Outbound) Thomas Cook India Ltd, said: “The festive season offers a unique opportunity for short-haul destinations. Our internal data indicate an encouraging growth this festive season — approximately 30%.”