The idea now, industry players say, is to plan packages around holidays like the Republic Day and festivals, even a condensed trip for the weekends -- Lonavla or Goa for a Mumbai resident, Kumaon or Rajasthan for a Delhiite.

"We have seen some increase in leisure travel with the special long weekend packages, being offered at attractive prices. We are getting good response from honeymooners and couples with no kids," says Kashmira Commissariat, head (outbound division), Kuoni Travel Group.

Adds Amadeus India MD Ankur Bhatia who tracks air ticket bookings: "We have definitely seen a spurt in the number of ticket bookings for next week to leisure destinations on account of the Republic Day that this year would fall on a Monday. However, these are nowhere near what we witnessed for long weekends in 2008."

For international destinations, concerned travel companies are offering discounts of Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 on destinations like Thailand. Malaysia, Hong Kong and Dubai. A 4 day/5 nights trip to Malaysia can cost between Rs 18,000-Rs 21,500 per person, down from Rs 30,000 in 2008. Other common slowdown discounts include a 50% off in the total fare for spouse.