Taste of new locales
Amit Kumar Srivastava

GONE are the days when Indians used to find solace and relief visiting their native villages and enjoying their much earned summer or winter vacations with their families and relatives. The emergence of a nuclear family set-up coupled with a steep rise in the income have changed the way they enjoy their holidays.

"If we ever happen to go through the holiday brief or note of the children which they often submit to their class teachers after their summer and winter breaks nowadays, we would find vivid details of the scenic and exotic places they enjoyed with their parents. The note of their description will be more than enough to point out the latest fad in their lavish living," says Radhika Shastry, Managing Director, RCI Group, India, a global leader in non-hotel leisure accommodations.

"The Indian vacation requirements have shifted rapidly during the past few years to something aspirational and luxurious," she says. India is expected to be the third fastest growing country in the world in travel and tourism demand over the next 10 years, according to the Pacific Asia Association . The growth potential along with the the 19.8 per cent increase in the number of the members living in India with financial assets of more than $ 1 million versus 6.5 per cent growth worldwide is showing its impact in this sector, according to ‘Total Tourism Study’ by the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

Relaxation for the stressed-out career-persons, rejuvenation for the elderly who want to avoid the colder climes, as well as fun, frolic and adventure for the younger lot is what western style beach holidaying offers. — PTI