Increase in Travel During Lok Sabha Elections: Election Tourism Sees 27% Surge in Inter-State Travel | Personal Finance

As India gears up for the Lok Sabha elections, a new trend is emerging in the travel industry – election tourism. With the world’s largest democracy going to the polls, travel platforms like ixigo and AbhiBus have observed significant shifts in travel patterns during the election season.

According to Rohit Sharma, COO of AbhiBus, there has been a remarkable surge in intra-state travel across states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In Tamil Nadu alone, travel activity increased by 27% over usual levels, while other states saw similar spikes in bus travel demand.

Interestingly, there was also a notable increase in inter-state travel during the election period, with a 21% rise in bus travel from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, indicating a cross-border mobilization of voters. This trend highlights the unique phenomenon of election tourism in India, where citizens are not only actively participating in the democratic process but also exploring different parts of the country in the process.

Moreover, air travel has also seen a surge in demand, with average airfares for various routes showing a year-on-year increase. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, India’s tourism sector is witnessing a resurgence, with foreign tourist arrivals increasing by 64% in 2023 compared to the previous year. While the sector still remains below pre-pandemic levels, the growth in tourism during the election season is a positive sign for the industry’s recovery.