For those stuck in the rut of day-to-day living, there?s nothing quite like a rejuvenating holiday to unwind. From marveling at the magnificent vistas of New Zealand to snorkeling and scuba-diving in the Maldives and Mauritius; from an adrenaline-charged skiing trip in Switzerland to exploring the wild beauty of South Africa ? the new-age Indian traveller is constantly in search of newer and more exciting holidays abroad. Overseas holidays have thus ceased to be affairs planned out after years of meticulous saving and are fast becoming a mass-market enterprise for first-time travellers, families and newly-weds. With smaller budgets, shorter trips and the convenience of group tours making things even more attractive, jetting off to exotic locales abroad has become the trend du jour for even middle-class Indians.

But why this sudden passion for travel? Industry experts attribute this wanderlust to a combination of factors: economic growth, surging stock prices, an increasing number of tourist visas being granted, greater liberalisation of foreign exchange and travel regulations by the Indian Government and economic reforms that have lowered airfare costs and spurred Indian travellers to venture out. Moreover, the charm of holidaying abroad is enhanced further by the opportunity to get a feel of cultures and lifestyles distinctly different from our own.

With an estimated six million travellers holidaying abroad this year, the overseas holiday market has been raking in the moolah and Indians, for once, are not complaining. Though the U.S. is the most favoured destination for Indians travelling abroad, the number of outbound trips to South-East Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle-East and the Far-East has more than doubled in the last decade. The total number of Indians to visit Malaysia last year was 1,45,000 and the ministry of tourism expects these figures to touch 200,000 by end 2004. Singapore also saw a turnout of over 50,000 Indian tourists for the shopping festival this year. These figures only confirm India?s potential as one of the world?s fastest emerging outbound tourism markets.

So who exactly are these new-age travellers? According to industry insiders, the biggest players in this segment are the package tour travellers moving in groups and availing of various discount packages. The other major group comprises travellers who are usually highly educated, open to Western culture and influences, and head for long-haul destinations in search of new experiences. The high-end segment, a small but vital section, consists of frequent travellers forever on the lookout for exhilarating new getaways. Students studying abroad and honeymooners are other rapidly growing groups.

For newly-weds Ravindra and Ishika Chowdhury, travelling is a passion and when it came to planning their honeymoon destination, Europe won hands-down. ?We started from London and visited a host of countries including Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria. We?ll definitely go abroad again, though, this time, we are looking at places like New Zealand.?

Ira Mathur, a student, recounts her memorable trip to Spain earlier this year. ?I worked on a Spanish survey programme conducted by a call-centre and earned enough to finance part of my trip. The rest was taken care of by my parents. A lot of planning went into the trip as summer is peak season with rates being hiked. As soon as we landed in Barcelona, we pored through guide books and maps before venturing out on our own,? she recalls.

The interest in these places has been given a major leg-up with a slew of Hindi film crews moving to exotic locales for outdoor shoots. Starting with Subodh Mukherjee, the very first director to have actor Joy Mukherjee serenading Asha Parekh in Love In Tokyo, we?ve had industry heavyweights like Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Rakesh Roshan, Vikram Bhatt, Karan Johar and Farhan Akhtar scouting for virgin locations to make their films more visually appealing.

State-of-the-art facilities and attractive rates apart, the promise being held out is that of an out-of-the-ordinary experience. The options are many and with each tour-operator vying to outdo the other, the customer can pick and choose from the best of them all. What?s more, with ?travel now, pay later? schemes available, destinations once accessible only to the rich are now within the reach of even average Joes. A better alternative is to apply for a holiday or personal loan offered by most Indian banks.

?There are a whole range of places to choose from and we make sure that you have the best. We have a tie-up with Citibank, which provides loans to our clients for travelling abroad. The loan can be availed very easily and can be paid back within 36 months. It?s very much like a personal loan and those who have the required documents and credentials can enjoy the benefits,? says Rajesh Das, executive, Leisure Travels, Thomas Cook India Ltd.

Explains T.R Ramachandran, card business manager, Citibank, ?The Citibank World Money card represents a fundamentally new way to carry foreign exchange when travelling and has become a great alternative to travellers? cheques, given its ease of use, flexibility and security features. It can be used in over 30 million merchant establishments worldwide, thus affording the member the convenience of using the card in the country of travel and have these charges billed later in Indian rupees.?

For classical singer Madhumita Ray, global credit cards come in handy when she has to make a tour abroad. ?My profession often takes me on foreign trips to attend concerts. Had it not been for my HSBC global credit cards, it would have been very difficult to plan a trip. Thanks to them, I had a wonderful experience in Paris, Canada, USA and UK and intend to go there in the near future too.?

Amita Sequira, public relations consultant with SOTC, one of the largest travel operators avers that their deferred payment schemes attract a fair share of travellers from all walks of life ? salaried, professionals and businessmen. ?Customers are under the impression that applying for a loan is a tedious process. However, SOTC is the only company to offer a travel loan as a one-stop-shop with dedicated staff to handle all loan formalities. Other benefits include competitive interest rates, low processing fee, convenient repayment term, simple documentation and speedy processing. While the salaried class takes to the scheme for the convenience of paying for the holiday over a longer time period, businessmen and professionals see it as a prudent way to pay for a trip.?

Many Indian travel agents and tour operators also offer tailor-made packages to woo would-be travellers by promising them the ?holiday of a lifetime?. In addition to stringent safety measures, some of these package tours also offer Indian vegetarian food, seen as a major advantage. Facilities offered are excellent, apart from which these travel agents also score in terms of flexibility of rates. Besides the obvious advantages such as value for money and EMI facilities, other perks include access to various leisure facilities. Adds Sequira, ?SOTC addresses the changing mindset of the Indian traveller by offering holidays on easy installments to suit every pocket and profile.?

Across the world, governments in different countries are also putting out the red carpet for Indians. Though places in Europe and USA are the most favoured destinations, scenic South-East Asia too has a high density of short holiday options. The Indian outbound market is now even more important since the January 2004 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit and the subsequent declaration of a South Asian Free Trade Zone and South Asia Tourism Year 2005.

Anticipating a 25 per cent growth in Indian tourist receipts, the Malaysian tourism industry has launched special incentive packages for the Indian market to promote the niche segment. Apart from announcing this plan, the Honourable Minister of Tourism Datuk Dr Leo Michael Toyad, also unveiled the ?Showcase Malaysia 2004? package jointly introduced by Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines. As part of the package, any two people travelling together on Malaysia Airlines will be eligible for a complimentary 4 days/3 nights stay on twin-sharing with breakfast at participating hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang. The all India package, valid till December 15 this year, ranges between Rs 18,000 and Rs 21,000.

?To lure Indian honeymooners, an array of packages starting from as low as Rs 22,000 have been launched. Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Genting Highlands and Penang are the favourite destinations, though we are also trying to promote the unexplored Sabha, Sarawak, Tioman Islands and the Pangkor region as possible honeymoon getaways,? says Neha Oberoi, corporate communications executive, Malaysia tourism.

But for those looking for an action-packed vacation with an international shopping experience, Singapore may hold more allure than anyplace else. The vibrant city with its multicultural society attracts Indian tourists by the hordes for its month-and-a-half-long shopping festival, which offers amazing discounts, especially on branded goods. ?Indians are among the highest spenders and nearly 82 per cent of their budgets go on shopping. In fact, the response was so great this year that the shopping festival was extended by two weeks,? says a spokesperson for Singapore Tourism.

In recent years, Indians have also begun to venture to out-of-the way places such as Kenya, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, because they offer something different. The ?Come and Play in South Africa? campaign recently launched in India has also motivated tourists to explore the gorgeous country. The deal-driven consumer campaign aimed at promoting South Africa as a preferred tourist destination has glam girl Mandira Bedi endorsing the fun and glamour associated with it.

If South Africa beckons tourists with its exotic locales, New Zealand is the most popular choice for students pursuing management and medical degrees. ?New Zealand may be peaceful and relatively unpopulated, but it?s packed with entertainment options. Its temperate climate allows visitors to enjoy themselves all year,? says Nirupa Shah, on behalf of New Zealand Tourism.

Another form of leisure travel, whose popularity is growing by leaps and bounds is the cruise. ?Ready availability of foreign exchange combined with a media blitz have resulted in these catching the fancy of tourists like never before. Also, going on a cruise means an all-inclusive holiday with great food, accommodation and entertainment. Better exposure and increased travel is turning Indians into sophisticated tourists who are willing to shell out that extra bit just for the experience,? says Amita Munshi, head of corporate communications, Thomas Cook, Mumbai. According to her, vacationing on foreign shores has become more like a status symbol, and therefore a ?necessary luxury?.

Snazzy brochures, television advertisements, tie-up with banks and catchy hoardings ? aggressive promotion is the order of the day as travel houses pull out all the stops to lure the travel-crazy Indian eager to set foot on foreign shores. And with more and more of them lining up to experience the thrills of the unknown, holidaying abroad has never been so popular ? or easy.

Package Deals

SOTC

10 day European Experience
Per person: Rs 49,900
EMI per person x 36 months: Rs 1,742

3 day Tour of the Far East
Per person: Rs 64,900
EMI per person x 36 months: Rs 2,265

9 day Amazing Australia
Per person: Rs 98,900
EMI per person x 36 months: Rs 3,452

7 day South African Getaway
Per person: Rs 79,900
EMI per person x 36 months: Rs 2,789

Thomas Cook

Oriental Ecstasy, Winter 2004 (12 days)

Includes five cities spread across Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. You could also add on a four-day cruise aboard the Superstar Virgo. Starts from INR 35,250 + USD 510.

Hallmarks of Europe

22 days from Rs. 53,999 + Eu. 2,050. Includes an European tour that takes in Austria, Italy, Vatican City, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and the UK with a free stop at Dubai.

African Splendours, 16 days

Starts at Rs. 49,999 plus US $2,559 with airfare. Visit Nairobi, the Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru National Parks, Mt. Kenya National Reserve in Kenya, and Cape Town, Oudtshoom, Sun City and Johannesburg in South Africa