Pune: With election season in full swing, travellers have planned their excursions only after May 1 so as not to skip the polling day. Similarly, the tour operators said those travelling within India insisted on avoiding polling dates so as not to face closure of tourist attractions or for other security-related reasons.
TGCL Tours Director Vijay Mandlik said, “Among travellers, only 10 to 15 per cent are travelling during elections and the maximum number of bookings we have received is from May 1.”
He added, “Our bookings were on hold till the election dates were announced. We started getting booking only after the announcement. People do not want to miss voting, and most of the schools in Pune are also closing from May 1. Thus, a majority of people are travelling after May 1.”
Girikand Travels Pvt Ltd MD Akhilesh Joshi said, “Once the election dates were announced, we came up with travel schedules and packages and made sure that no election date clashes with the day of travel or stay. As elections were to happen, most of the people had planned their vacation after that. Travellers from the city have booked tickets mostly after April 23.”
He added, “Around 30 per cent of people who planned their vacation before the election date was announced wanted to postpone or prepone, but the cost of flights has gone up after Jet Airways crises and thus they are confused whether to cancel or not. Elections always impact travel industry, as many government staffers including teachers are supposed to be on duty during election, which reduces the footfall as they are not able to travel. ”
Nilesh Bhansali, Director, Travel Agents Association of Pune (TAAP) said, “Not many people travel during elections. Only a few who booked tickets before the dates were announced are travelling. The bookings, which we have received, are mostly after May 1.”
He added, “People avoid travelling during elections, as they are aware and want to vote and also there are security issues during election so they prefer not to travel. People prefer to stay for school examination results that are generally announced on April 29-30 which also result in change of travel plans.”
