Tourism to Southeast Asia picks up again

PUNE: Europe and USA are the tourist hotspots this season, even as bookings to the Far East and Southeast Asia pick up once again. Closer home, there's nothing to beat the cool climes of Kashmir and Kulu-Manali, though Goa, Bangalore, Ooty, Mysore and Kodaikanal are popular too, say city-based travel operators and ticketing agents.
Travel agent Rohit Sethi said, "A month ago, after the earthquake in Japan, there were absolutely no bookings for the Far East and Southeast Asian countries like Burma, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia, etc.We will, however, organise a tour some time in May, as the panic has begun to recede. Japan is still a no-no, except for those who wish to go for business purposes and they too are careful about which part of the country they visit. For those who are not yet ready for the Far East and Southeast Asia, domestic tours to Kashmir and the beaches of south India are a popular option. As for Europe, especially UK, Germany, France and Austria, they are perennial favourites."
Satish Kulkarni, manager of another city-based travel and tour agency, said that the Far East and Southeast Asia was not an option for most travelers this year. "These days it is Kashmir, Bangalore, Ooty and Mysore. The season to go to Europe (June) is just around the corner, so booking enquiries for those are plenty as well."
Ticketing agent Aparna Nelthroppe, however, said that a month's time had been enough for people to get over the aftermath of the Japanese crisis. "Tourism to Southeast Asia has picked up again because of several reasons like affordability, hospitality and easy availability of visas. Europe and the USA have always been popular options for a certain section," she said. "Another popular option is a cruise in the Scandinavian countries, including Norway, Denmark and Holland."
Sandeep Joshi, manager of another travel agency, said, "Though tourism to Japan per se has been affected, the Far East continues to have many takers in the months of summer. Scandinavian countries in Europe are a great option too. In India, it's the cold climes of Kashmir, Kulu-Manali-Shimla that attract tourists in April-May-June."
Ticketing agent Gulzar Sayyed said that bookings for Singapore-Hongkong-Thailand and Malaysia were choc-a bloc for April-May, despite the slump in March. "People were adopting a wait-and-watch policy post the earthquake. But tourism to these countries has picked up again," she said.
Another travel agent Soumitra Joshi said: "Tourism to Kashmir has picked up in a big way as well over the last year. Kulu Manali-Shimla and Southern destinations like Mysore-Ooty-Kodaikanal are favourites for family get-togethers and reunions."
The hike in airfare due to an increase in taxes has not really affected tourism to Southeast Asia, say Sethi and Nelthroppe. "There is a Rs 800-1,000 hike on economy tickets. And, since most tourists use this option, it is not expensive. For business and economy though, the hike in taxes is over 10 per cent, so ticket prices naturally pick up. It is for this reason, primarily that the Far East is such a fine option. Ticket prices to the UK and USA have gone up considerably, even in the economy class. So one has to really save before planning a trip there," said Nelthroppe.