Pune Diwali holiday season, short breaks in Popular city's

Direct flight connection from Pune are the rage this Diwali.Dubai and Singapore have made it to the top international travel spots, while Rajasthan, Goa, Coorg-Kabini and Delhi-Agra circuits are the most preferred among domestic destinations. The extent of research done by travelers in choosing the destinations they travel to and hotels they pick has increased. But the travel business has been just about average, claims travel companies.

Apart from Rajasthan, the other hots pots trending this year are Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir and the northeast to an extent. "Most travelers are opting for a short Diwali break. They have planned their travel before Diwali, so that they can celebrate the festival in Pune. Most people are opting for domestic flight at distance or those having direct flight connection with Pune, such as Jaipur, Goa, Bangalore and Chennai," said Nikhil Thakurdas, owner of city-based Odyssey Tours and Travels.

Thakurdas said Rajasthan was almost on a par with Goa in terms of tourist preference. "Among international destinations, Dubai, Singapore, Thailand and Sri Lanka have had many takers this Diwali. Dubai has emerged as the number one spot among the international destinations particularly because of the direct flight connection from Pune. Thailand is cost-effective, though one has to travel to Mumbai," he said.

Travel companies say business this Diwali is average. G Krishna, the chairperson of the Pune chapter of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and general manager at Travel Masters, said, "International destinations include Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia and Maldives, while Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir are attracting many in the domestic circuit”.

Krishna said with November 10 to 15 a holiday in many companies, people are planning short breaks, including travel to they have already explored in the past.

"There is a general slowdown in business transactions during the festive season. Rather than sitting in offices, many have decided to put on their traveling shoes for some time out of the city," said Katre.

Zelam Chaubal, the director of Kesari Tours Pvt Ltd, said that travel to Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat had especially picked up this vacation period, as tourism boards in the two states had done some extensive advertising of their tourist spots this year.

"Rush to Kerala has dipped by 5% and we have not witnessed a tourism boom this Diwali, particularly because people traveled extensively in the summer of 2015," said Chaubal.

Top places this Diwali Domestic:
Rajasthan, Goa, Coorg-Kabini, Delhi-Agra, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir.

Top spots this Diwali International:
Dubai, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Airfare