Mumbai, June, 25: A discussion on social media has reignited the debate over the rising cost of domestic tourism in India after a content creator shared how a friend opted for an international holiday in Sri Lanka instead of a trip to Rishikesh in Uttarakhand due to similar overall expenses.

An Indian entrepreneur Paritsh Sharrma in a post on X, where he pointed out how hotel tarriffs and travel charges in India could sometimes make foreign destinations more budget-friendly.

According to Sharrma, his friend had originally intended to visit Rishikesh in North India. However, the plan was abandoned due to the cost analysis of hotel accommodation in the area. It was reported that a sober accommodation service in Rishikesh ranged from ₹9,000 to ₹15,000 per night. On top of that, airfare from Mumbai to Delhi was estimated at around ₹7,000–₹8,000 one way, followed by additional travel to reach Rishikesh.

Sharrma quoted his post saying: “A friend was going to Rishikesh for a trip. Checked decent hotels, ₹9K–15K per night. Flights from Mumbai to Delhi were ₹7K–8K one way.”

Faced with the overall expense, the traveler had gone on to compare foreign alternatives and found out that Sri Lanka to be a more affordable choice for the same budget.

Sharrma claimed that the same budget in Sri Lanka could easily secure sea-facing accommodation for as low as ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 per night, along with a more relaxed and tourism-friendly experience.

“On the same budget, he booked Sri Lanka instead. Got a 5-star sea-facing hotel for ₹3K–5K, better value for money, cleaner air, more peaceful and tourism friendly,” he added.

The incident has highlighted a growing conversation among Indian travellers about the affordability of domestic tourism versus international travel, especially as outbound travel options in South Asia become more accessible and competitively priced.

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While the opinions on social media remain divided, the discussion underscores a broader trend: travellers are increasingly weighing global options alongside domestic destinations when planning vacations based on value, experience, and overall cost.