Survey shows major price hikes for Maha Kumbh visitors: 87% pay extra for flights, 67% for stays and transport

Survey shows major price hikes for Maha Kumbh visitors

Around 87% of individuals who flew to the Mahakumbh paid 50-300% more for their airfares, according to a LocalCircles survey

With the Mahakumbh event set to conclude on February 26, LocalCircles carried out a nationwide survey to collect feedback from travelers regarding the expenses they faced for air tickets, accommodation, and transportation.

The survey collected more than 49,000 responses from Mahakumbh visitors across 303 districts in India. Of those surveyed, 62% were men and 38% were women. Additionally, 44% of respondents came from tier 1 cities, 25% from tier 2 cities, and 31% from tier 3, 4, 5, and rural regions.

87% Paid 50-300% More in Air Travel

The survey asked air travelers to Prayagraj, “When you or your family members traveled to Mahakumbh, how much more did you pay compared to the regular prices for air tickets?"

Out of the 16,215 respondents, only 13% said they “did not pay additional, just regular airfare." Meanwhile, 38% reported paying “50-100% more than the regular fare,” 12% paid “100-200% more,” another 12% paid “200-300% more,” and 25% stated they “paid over 300% more than the regular fare.”

In conclusion, 87% of the air travelers surveyed for the Mahakumbh reported paying 50-300% higher than the regular airfare.

67% Paid 50-300% More Than Usual for Regular Tents

The survey asked individuals who recently attended the Mahakumbh Mela, “When you or your family members went to Mahakumbh, how much more did you pay than regular prices for accommodation like tents, hotel rooms, lodges, etc.?"

Out of the 16,549 respondents, 26% said they “did not pay extra, just the regular rate.”

However, 14% of respondents stated they “paid up to 50% more than regular rate"; 14% of respondents stated they “paid 50-100% more than regular rate"; 7% of respondents stated they “paid 100-200% more than regular rate"; 14% of respondents said they “paid 200-300% more than regular rate"; 18% said they “paid over 300% more than regular rate" and 7% of respondents did not give a clear answer.

66% of Mahakumbh Attendees Paid 50-300% More in Transportation and Boat Ride Charges

The survey asked visitors to Prayagraj about their transportation expenses, “When you or your family members attended Mahakumbh, how much more did you pay than the regular prices for local transportation, boat rides, etc.?"

Out of the 16,512 respondents, 22% stated they “did not pay extra, just the regular rate.” However, 6% reported paying “up to 50% more than the regular rate,” 6% paid “50-100% more,” 16% paid “100-200% more,” 22% paid “200-300% more,” and 12% paid “over 300% more than the regular rate.” Additionally, 12% of respondents did not provide a clear answer.

To sum up, 66% of those who visited Mahakumbh and used local transportation services, boat rides, etc., confirmed paying 50-300% more than the regular rate.

LocalCircles allows citizens and small businesses to raise issues for policy and enforcement actions, helping the government create policies that prioritize the needs of citizens and small businesses.