In recent times, travel platforms like ixigo and AbhiBus have noticed a remarkable surge in inter-state travel during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This trend sheds light on a unique aspect of Indian tourism – election tourism.
India is not only known for its diverse cultural heritage, wildlife sanctuaries, and spiritual sites but also for its vibrant democracy. As the world’s largest democracy, India’s elections have become an intriguing draw for travelers.
Rohit Sharma, COO of AbhiBus (ixigo bus business), described election tourism as a captivating phenomenon that reflects citizens’ strong commitment to democratic participation.
Changing Travel Patterns
During the Lok Sabha elections, significant changes were observed in travel patterns across the country. Travel platforms noted these shifts based on the polling phases in different states.
For instance, bus travel searches on AbhiBus witnessed a substantial increase during the election period:
Bangalore to Mumbai: 104%
Mumbai to Delhi: 52%
Delhi to Srinagar: 45%
Chandigarh to Srinagar: 48%
Air Travel Trends
Analyzing airfares, Ixigo reported interesting year-on-year comparisons for various routes between April 19 and June 1 in 2024 and 2023:
New Delhi to Ahmedabad saw a 22% increase in average airfare.
Hyderabad to Vishakhapatnam experienced an 11% rise.
New Delhi to Lucknow had a 23% increase.
New Delhi to Ranchi witnessed a significant 31% increase.
Pune to Nagpur recorded a substantial 39% increase.
New Delhi to Amritsar showed a 6% rise.
Tourism Outlook
Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, India’s tourism sector is rebounding. In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals surged by 64% compared to 2022, totaling 9,236,108 visitors. However, this growth is still 15.5% below pre-pandemic levels of 2019, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
The rise in election tourism during the Lok Sabha polls reflects not only a keen interest in India’s democratic process but also underscores the unique ways in which people explore and engage with the country’s diverse landscapes and experiences. This phenomenon highlights the multifaceted appeal of India as a travel destination and its vibrant democratic culture.
