The 450 day wait for US tourist Visas has led many Hyderabad travellers to explore other vacation destinations. Travel agents report that interest in destinations like Australia, New Zealand or South Africa has increased. Other popular European hotspots, such as France, Portugal and Spain, have also seen an increase. Visa-free destinations such as Sri Lanka, Thailand and the UAE are also seeing increased demand.
Travel agent Ravi Sharma said that the US is a popular destination for families. The weather in the US is perfect during the winter months, and many parents come to visit their children.
But because of the long wait times travellers are looking elsewhere. In the last few months, we have seen a 40% increase of bookings to countries such as Australia, South Africa and France.
Dubai and Thailand for budget travellers
Budget-conscious travellers will continue to choose popular options such as Dubai, Thailand, or Azerbaijan. These destinations offer affordable travel and accommodation packages, which are often priced under a lakh. These destinations are popular for last-minute travel plans because of their affordability and availability.
“We also had plans for the US, but we are fine with Azerbaijan too.”
“The cost of the trip to Azerbaijan was three times higher than the US. It is always good for people to discover lesser-known places,” says Megha Takkellapati from Alwal.
There are some travellers who are also frustrated by the delay but happy with their last minute choices. Mohammad Irfan is a businessman who lives in Jubilee Hills. He shared his experience.
“We had planned a trip for months to the US to attend a family event. Unfortunately, visa delays forced us to cancel. We got our visas for Australia and tickets with ease, and we will be traveling there in December,” said he.
The delays also have an impact on the travel industry. Agents report a 70% decrease in revenue for bookings that are headed to the US.
“While the delays have been challenging, they have encouraged people explore new destinations and culture,” said Abdul Majid Fahim. Chairman of the Travel Agents Federation of India AP and TG Chapter.
