Digital
Booking.com reveals top Republic Day weekend getaways
Mumbai: With Republic Day around the corner, Indians are making the most of this three-day extended weekend to plan their getaways as they hit the roads and the skies. Booking.com share insights into the preferred travel destinations for Indian travellers this Republic Day.
Some of the popular destinations for the long weekend include beach destinations like Puducherry, Goa and Alibaug and leisure hotspots like Jaipur, Udaipur, Mahabaleshwar, Ooty and Lonavala, within convenient proximity to major cities. As per Booking.com’s search data, travellers are also searching for closer-to-home international hotspots such as Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok.
Commenting on the same, Booking.com country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia Santosh Kumar said, “2024 has many long weekends presenting a significant opportunity for the travel and hospitality industry to cater to the growing traveller demand and capitalising on this trend. The upcoming Republic Day falling on a Friday this year, has ignited a search in travel demand as Indians eagerly plan to make the most of the long weekend. We are seeing demand come in from couples followed by groups and families. In addition to hotels and resorts, we are seeing Indians opting for alternative accommodations such as homestays, guest houses, apartments and villas for their stay. With travellers indulging in short breaks, exploring destinations near and far, Booking.com is committed to enhancing the traveller experience and making it easier for everyone to experience the world.”
Top searched destinations by Indians travelling domestically for the long weekend (January 26 to January 28, 2024)
Puducherry
Mumbai
Jaipur
Udaipur
Mahabaleshwar
Bengaluru
Ooty
Lonavala
Goa
Alibaug
Top searched international destinations by Indians travelling for the long weekend (January 26 to January 28, 2024)
Dubai
Singapore
Bangkok
Paris
Phuket
London
Hanoi
Kuala Lumpur
Ho Chi Minh City
Tokyo
Top searched accommodation types by Indian travellers travelling within India for the long weekend (26 January to 28 January 2024)
Hotel
Resort
Homestay
Guest House
Apartment
Indian Traveller Demographic travelling for the long weekend (26 January to 28 January 2024)
Couple
Group
Family
Solo
Methodology
The data scientists at Booking looked at the most popular destinations in India and Globally, accommodations searched in India and the travel demographics based on booking data by Indian travellers for search sessions between 15-12-2023 and 15-01-2024 and check-in dates between 2024-01-26 and 2024-01-28.
Digital
Nembharat ride-booking app to launch with zero commissions
WEML unveils prepaid platform eliminating surge pricing, aims to stabilise driver earnings and fix fares for passengers.
MUMBAI: Ride-hailing in India is about to get a fare shake-up because when commissions vanish, the only thing surging might be driver smiles. World Economic Mobility Limited (WEML), governed by the Narayanihiti Trust, is gearing up to launch Nembharat, a new ride-booking app that scraps driver commissions and passenger surge pricing entirely. The prepaid, cashless platform promises drivers keep 100 per cent of their earnings while commuters enjoy fixed, predictable fares no dynamic pricing surprises.
The move lands amid ongoing tension in the sector: driver strikes over low take-home pay, passenger gripes about safety and erratic fares, and mounting regulatory scrutiny on platform accountability and gig-worker protections. Nembharat positions itself as a national transport network that integrates cabs, auto-rickshaws, and other modes under uniform safety standards aligned with Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) guidelines.
WEML director and CEO Deepak K. Shah said, “Our platform will address the lack of income predictability for gig workers. Nembharat is built to provide clear details on driver pay and passenger costs.”
WEML director and COO Kanchi Sharma added, “This system aligns with CCPA guidelines and acts as a tool to balance workforce standards with consumer protection.”
By removing the subscription and commission layer that dominates existing apps, WEML is betting on a leaner model that offers stability for fleet owners, individual drivers, and everyday riders alike. Whether it can scale across India’s chaotic roads and win over users tired of the status quo remains the real test but on paper, it’s aiming to turn every ride into a fair deal for both sides.
No launch date has been announced yet, but the promise is clear: in Nembharat’s world, the journey costs what it should nothing more, nothing less.
