New Delhi: Even as the fear of the third wave of Covid looms large, as many as 28 per cent of Indians are planning to travel during the August-September period, a new survey said. According to the survey by LocalCircles, 54 per cent of the respondents also plan to visit family and friends.
While daily Covid-19 cases in India have declined significantly in the last two months, experts have warned that with crowds thronging hill stations and poor adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour, the third wave is inevitable.
On being asked about their travel plans for August-September, 63 per cent of respondents said they don’t plan to travel, 5 per cent said they “have plans and have booked the tickets”, while 23 per cent said they “have plans to travel during these 2 months but have not booked tickets yet”. Nine per cent of the respondents said they are yet to decide.
Of those who plan to travel in the next two months, 13 per cent said they will visit a “holiday destination”, 39 per cent said they plan to “visit family and friends”, and 22 per cent said they have “other travel” plans.
The survey received over 18,000 responses from citizens residing in 311 districts of India. Of these, 68 per cent of respondents were men, while 32 per cent were women. Forty-two per cent of respondents were from tier 1 districts, 29 per cent from tier 2, and 29 per cent from tier 3, 4, and rural districts.
The results of the survey, on an aggregate basis, “indicate that of those who plan to travel in August-September, 54% will be visiting friends and family, 26% of the respondents will be travelling to holiday destinations, and 32% will be undertaking other kinds of travel”.
‘Govt should create awareness’
As most states have fully unlocked, the survey noted that the airlines are reporting a growth in traffic and online search interest amongst travelers for accommodation has “increased significantly since the beginning of June”.
The survey also stated that airliners, hoteliers, travel agencies, and related stakeholders hope that July and August would cover their loss accrued during the lockdown induced by the second wave of the outbreak.
However, it also suggested the government should “continue to create awareness amongst people about limiting non-essential travel till the time the risk of a 3rd Covid wave greatly reduces.”
On 12 April, LocalCircles survey found that 25 per cent of citizens were planning to travel during April-June period.
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