Weakened rupee a hassle for foreign trips

T’puram: With the rupee weakening against the US dollar, foreign travel has become more expensive. People now have to dish out 15-20% more as costs of accommodation and flight tickets have increased.In addition to increasing value of the dollar, the flight fares have also been impacted by a cutdown of schedules and disruptions in the Middle East transit hubs and local inflation at destinations.Airlines have cut flights to Vietnam and Thailand from Kochi, impacting travel to Southeast Asia and the Far East. This has led more people preferring domestic holidays.Sejoe Jose of Indian Association of Tour Operators said that trips to Europe are very expensive with flight routes passing via Middle East.The flight price, the expenses of hotel tariff, the local inflation have caused a hassle, he added.There are no direct flights to Vietnam and Bangkok with the fare being around the Rs 30,000-50,000 range.Jose said that people are forced to spend on local expenses when they reach they destination. This is creating a hassle when promoting the destination, he added.The disruption of flights in the Middle East has led to further delays and cancellation of flights on the route. People have to spend 10-15% more.This has led to an increase in domestic bookings. People from Kerala are travelling to northern states like northeast and Jammu and Kashmir while people from the northern region travel to the state.