Visa-free entry, but airfares to southeast Asia tourist hubs sky high

Chennai: Air fares to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Colombo and Hong Kong have increased after these countries allowed visa-free entry for travellers from India, triggering an increase in demand for tickets. The air fare is higher than it used to be last year. Return tickets are more than 30,000, which is far higher than the rates that used to be last year.The return fare to Hong Kong is in the range of 34,000-74,000; Colombo is 15,400-25,000; Kuala Lumpur is 26,000-60,000; and Bangkok is 26,700-30,800 for travel for the New Year weekend. The fare remains high on most days in the coming weeks.As domestic tours are expensive, more people are opting for an international holiday this Christmas and New Year season, said an airline official. “This holiday season, Indians are increasingly favouring visa-free nations, with a significant 49% increase in bookings for destinations like Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand compared to last year, said Gaurav Patwari, vice president, Air Category, Cleartrip.Sriharan Balan of Madura Travals said that Bangkok used to be 16,000 for a return ticket a year ago, but now it is selling at 24,000.The visa-free announcement has triggered interest among travelers. Flight searches to Hong Kong have recorded a 130% increase, a 70% rise in Bangkok, and a 50% increase in Colombo in the last quarter of 2023, as per data from travel-fintech company Scapia.Anil Goteti, founder and CEO of Scapia, said, “The increase in travel searches is a positive sign. The data indicates a tangible shift in travel patterns, thanks to the welcoming countries.”Southeast Asian countries are popular international destinations for travellers from Chennai. “The visa-free announcement has encouraged more people to try out a trip that they might have avoided because of the high air fare,” said an airport official.