From backpackers to bon-vivants – and everything in between – Indian travellers are not just reshaping the realm of domestic tourism but also commanding an increasingly important role in the ambit of international travel, leaving no corner of the globe too out of reach.
Taking insights from travel searches by its 100M+ annual active users, MakeMyTrip has put together some of the top behaviours of Indian travellers in the first edition of its India Travel Trends Report.
Insights include where, when and how India travels, top trends from millions of journeys – both from a national and a region-wise perspective.
Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, Rajesh Magow said, "Understanding the evolving travel behaviours of Indian travellers is essential to help shape the future of tourism, both domestically and globally. MakeMyTrip’s India Travel Trends Report highlights some of the latest essential trends.”
The number of people taking more than 3 trips per year has grown by 25 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2019.
“As India emerges as a formidable force in the tourism sector, these insights can help bridge the demand and supply gaps in the travel and hospitality space," explained Magow.
This means crafting policies, identifying destinations, and creating experiences that resonate with the traveller’s unique travel preferences and aspirations,” said Magow.
“Recognising and catering to each traveller’s diverse behaviour will not only enhance travel experiences but also contribute significantly to the growth and development of the tourism industry,” he added.
Some key insights from the report are as follows:
WHERE INDIA TRAVELS
Number of people taking more than three trips per year has grown by 25 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2019.
Tier-2 and tier-3 cities are embracing spiritual journeys, with searches for destinations with or around religious spots growing 97 per cent in the last two years.
Searches for Ayodhya grew by 585 per cent, Ujjain by 359 per cent and Badrinath by 343 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022.
Thirty per cent all international travel searches from India are for Dubai, Bangkok and Singapore while London, Toronto and New York are the most searched long-haul destinations.
Weekend getaways continue to curry favour with Indian travellers – Searches for Jim Corbett grew by 131 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022; Ooty and Munnar are other favourites in this context.
Thirty per cent all international travel searches from India are for Dubai, Bangkok and Singapore while London, Toronto and New York are the most searched long-haul destinations.
Searches for emerging international destinations grew multi-fold in 2023 – hot favourites include Hong Kong, Almaty, Paro, Baku, Da Nang and Tbilisi.
WHEN, WITH WHOM AND HOW INDIA TRAVELS
Family vs Solo - Family travel bookings surged by 64 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022, followed by solo traveller booking growth at 23 per cent for the same comparative period.
FLIGHT BOOKING PREFERENCES
50 per cent of all domestic flyers pick flights between 9 am and 6 pm, irrespective of destination or origin.
A significant portion of travel bookings in India are made spontaneously, with 46 per cent of domestic flights booked less than a week before the travel date. In contrast, about half of all international bookings are made at least two weeks in advance.
A significant portion of travel bookings in India are made spontaneously, with 46% of domestic flights booked less than a week before the travel date.
Only one-third of international bookings are made more than a month before the travel date, suggesting a flexible approach to international travel planning among Indian travellers.
Women prefer to pre-book window seats, while men pick aisle seats.
Tomato Cucumber Cheese Lettuce Sandwich is the most ordered in-flight meal on domestic flights.
ACCOMMODATION BOOKING PREFERENCES
56 per cent of domestic leisure hotel bookings on the platform are made less than a week before the day of travel.
33 per cent of international hotel bookings are made at least 30 days before the date of travel.
Alternative accommodations on the platform recorded 24 per cent growth in bookings in 2023
For hostels and apartments, the preference is for those less than Rs 2,500 per night but for villas, it is higher.
Close to 20 per cent of family travellers searched for properties with tariffs over Rs 10,000 per night.
UPI is the most preferred payment method for booking travel, making close to 40% of all transaction types, followed by use of credit cards.
PAYMENT PREFERENCE
UPI is the most preferred payment method for booking travel, making close to 40 per cent of all transaction types, followed by use of credit cards.
Credit card is the most used payment mode for high value transactions such as for booking international hotels and flights. This can be attributed to the benefits associated with credit card payments.
THE GIFT OF TRAVEL
Wedding gift cards in the denominations of Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 are the most gifted.
One out of two travel gift cards being purchased are being gifted as wedding shagun.