MakeMyTrip, one of India’s leading online travel platforms, has released its ‘How India Travels Abroad’ report, revealing important insights into the international travel habits of Indians from June 2023 to May 2024.
Increase in international travel
The report highlights a substantial increase in online searches for international travel destinations, indicating a growing interest among Indians to explore the world. Notably, there has been a 32% increase in the number of travellers taking two or more international trips, while the number of those embarking on three or more international trips has increased by 37%.
Top International Destinations for Indian Travelers
According to the report, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the list of most popular countries, accounting for 17 percent of all international travel searches. Other popular destinations include Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Most searched international cities
Despite a slight decline in search contributions from the top 10 cities, which now stand at 42 per cent, Dubai remains the most searched destination among Indian travellers. Bangkok, Singapore, London, Phuket, Bali, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Toronto and New York also feature prominently on the list.
Seasonal travel trends
The report highlights that interest in international travel is consistent throughout the year, with December being the peak month for travel searches. Short-haul destinations see an increase in searches between October and December, while medium- and long-haul destinations are most popular between April and September.
New popular tourist destinations
Indians are increasingly drawn to emerging destinations, with searches for the top 10 most popular new destinations up 70 percent. Almaty and Baku, in particular, have seen staggering growth rates of 527 percent and 395 percent respectively, highlighting a growing interest in less-explored regions.
Travel trends and last minute bookings
The report also notes a trend towards last-minute bookings, with almost 50 percent of international flights and 56 percent of hotel rooms booked within 14 days of departure. Oman, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates lead the list for last-minute flight bookings, while Qatar, Oman and Azerbaijan top the list for last-minute hotel bookings. European cities, on the other hand, are the favourites for bookings made well in advance.
Rise in luxury travel
Luxury travel is booming, with searches for business class flights up 10%. Hong Kong has seen a remarkable 131% increase in such searches, followed by Sri Lanka, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Demand for flexibility and additional luggage
Destinations such as Japan, Europe, the United States and South Korea are popular for cancellation-free flight bookings, while the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Europe and the United States see high demand for travel insurance. Additionally, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal lead the way for extra baggage bookings, while Europe, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and the United States are the top choices for full refunds for visa rejections.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.