Planning a vacation abroad? Get ready to shell out 20% more as falling rupee bites

The impact of this cost increase in more on European and South East Asian destinations, the report said

Planning a visit to Europe, the United States or Southeast Asia this summer? Get ready to shell out more.

Prices of international vacation packages have risen up to 15 to 20 percent over the previous year for the April-June period, the Times of India has reported, adding the tour operators have passed on the hike to travellers.

The cost of international tour packages has increased because of rupee depreciation, the report cited Rajiv Mehra, president of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), as saying.

Prices have gone up by at least 15-20 percent, the highest since 2017-18 and 2018-19 when the costs had gone up because of a falling rupee, Mehra said.

Hotel tariffs have also gone up, adding to the burden, the report said.

The impact of this cost increase in more on European and Southeast Asian destinations, the report said.

Rising costs however have not dissuaded travellers, the report pointed out as more Indians are looking for exotic locations.

Mehra said “unprecedented” rush in the country’s hill stations is driving the prices of hotels and airfares at home, and so people are looking at options abroad. Several countries have also announced free e-visas for Indians, which has increased the demand for overseas tour packages despite dollar getting expensive.