What Do Indian Tourists Want? We Asked 5 Hotel Brands

09.05.2024 - 12:53 / skift.com / Bulbul Dhawan

India is a key source market for the neighboring countries of Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. In February, India was the biggest source market for Nepal, accounting for more than 25% of foreign tourist arrivals in the country.

For Bhutan, Indians accounted for 60% of the total international tourists in the first three months of 2024. The country is expecting 150,000 Indian tourists this year, more than double that of 2023. 

In Sri Lanka, the number of tourists from India in the island nation increased by over 100% in January.

What are they doing to keep the growth going? Skift caught up with some boutique hotel brands from these three countries that were in India for a trade event.

Here’s what we learned:

Amrit Rajaratnam, founder of Galle Fort Hotel, Sri Lanka: Indian travelers are seeking authentic, experiential, and unique experiences, Rajaratnam said.

“They seek bespoke luxury experiences and are inclined to invest in shorter, luxe getaways as opposed to longer trips. They want unique, immersive travel experiences, which are family friendly and exclusive.” Rajaratnam added that Indian travelers prefer privacy, often booking entire properties for their group travels.

Khin Omar Win, owner of Gangtey Lodge, Bhutan: “Discerning Indian travelers are more mindful, curious, and adventurous. They seek cultural immersion. The biggest trend we have experienced is the shift in interest from classic travel to developed destinations to more immersive, nature-focused travel and soft adventure,” Win said.

He added that pre-Covid, his property received very little interest from the Indian market but this has significantly increased post-pandemic. 

Nilanka Martinus, managing director of Mosvold Boutique Hotels, Sri Lanka: “Indian travelers are looking for unique boutique luxury experiences, coupled with a discerning palate for great food, particularly with a strong preference for vegetarian options. They highly value personalized attention and excellent service standards.”

The Indian market, particularly the middle and upper-middle class, is increasingly inclined to splurge on luxurious travel experiences and boutique hotels and have moved away from package tours, Martinus shared. 

Prabina KC Chhetri, sales and marketing director of Dwarika’s Group of Hotels and Resorts, Nepal: She said that apart from experiential tours, Indians are also inclined towards holistic well-being, spiritual and cultural experiences, and sustainable travel.

Hashan Cooray, managing director of Jetwing Hotels, Sri Lanka: Jetwing Hotels has been witnessing increased interest in properties that offer agricultural experiences and tea estate experiences. “Luxury wellness retreats are seeing increased demand from Indian travelers, where