Booking.com's Insight on How India Travels

19.10.2023 - 10:19 / skift.com / Peden Doma Bhutia

That’s how Kumar opened Booking’s “How India Travels” report release on Wednesday in Delhi, which cited several reasons for the optimism: 

There is a marked difference in how they travel: Beyond traditional tourist destinations, Indian travelers are now on a quest for novelty, craving authentic and immersive experiences, as highlighted in Booking.com’sreport released in collaboration withknowledge partners McKinsey & Company.

This shift, according to the report, is prompting online travel agencies to focus on tailoring personalized offers and optimizing landing pages to provide relevant product recommendations.

The report also sheds light on the shifting travel landscape, offering insights into the new Indian traveler and the factors driving this growth.

What’s Driving These Travelers? Driven by a strong economy, a growing middle class and a fairly young population, Indian travelers are prioritizing travel experiences. This is further bolstered by the expected shift in India’s income pyramid, marked by a six-time growth in households earning $35,000 annually by 2030.

Where are They Traveling?

International: Competitive tour packages, easier booking processes, and improved visa access have made foreign travel more accessible to Indian tourists. Destinations like Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal are becoming preferred choices, showcasing the diversification of international travel options for Indian globetrotters.

Interesting Point: In some cases, Booking notes that for destinations like Bangkok, Nepal and Sri Lanka, a 5-day international destination package costs almost the same as a domestic package, making overseas travel even more attractive.

Domestic: Smaller cities in India, such as Varanasi, Coimbatore, Mysore, Puducherry, Chandigarh and Kochi, are gaining popularity among travelers. While some are destinations in themselves, other serve as gateways to other destinations.

What’s Contributed to The Small City Rush?

What’s Driving This Wanderlust?

Indian travelers are largely influenced by social media platforms, TV shows and Indian cinema. That explains why travel brands engage in celebrity endorsements and partnerships. Mega events like sporting tournaments (ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023), diplomatic meetings (G20 Summit 2023), music concerts (Lollapalooza) and many more also influence travel decisions. YouTube is the go-to platform among social media platforms for travel inspiration, followed by Instagram.

Booking.com is a sponsor of the ICC Cricket World Cup currently taking place in India.

6 Skift Takeways from the Report:

1. Shorter Trip Planning Windows to Plan Longer Trips: Indians are notorious as last-minute bookers and the pandemic has further shortened the booking window