Young professionals ignore Goa, Ooty

Jaya Chaudhari, 29, was tired of visiting the same old local tourist spots. Instead, she decided to go on a short weekend trip to Singapore.

“Tickets were easily available and the cost of travelling was same as any local destination. Even getting a visa did not pose a problem. Moreover, it was just a few hours by flight,” she said.

The time when Ooty and Goa were popular destination for short breaks and weekend getaways is long past. More number of young professionals, with upwardly mobile lifestyle, are opting to travel abroad for a short weekend break. 

This trend was first observed by online travel sites in the city. A survey conducted by makemytrip.com revealed that working professionals between the age group of 21 to 35 are going abroad on short weekend trips.

“We have observed that working professionals prefer taking short breaks as opposed to month long leaves. Singapore seems to be the preferred spot for a short three to four day trip,” said Keyur Joshi, CEO, makemytrip.com.

Cashing on the trend, Singapore tourism has launched its off-season campaign to woo young Indians. “We noticed this trend last year and since most tourists plan their itinerary through online sites, we tied up with yatra, travelguru and makemytrip. We are also partnering with Jet Airways for cheaper air fares for the tourists,” said Rebecca Lim, head, western region, Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The campaign, which was launched in September will continue till end of October.