Indians now take two or more international trips a year and there are some notable changes in the preferences that Indian travellers ask for when travelling abroad. Today, international travel by Indian tourists is driven by macroeconomic factors that are fuelling the rise in travel among Indians. These trends present an opportunity for the travel industry to innovate and meet the changing needs of Indian travellers. While domestic tourism has increased incredibly, the latest findings from MakeMyTrip’s ‘How India Travels Abroad’ report reveal some interesting developments in international travel behaviour. Read on to know more. (Image: Shutterstock)
Top destinations and emerging destinations | The report revealed that popular destinations like the UAE, Thailand and the US top the list of destinations Indians love to travel to, and Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Bhutan top the list of emerging destinations. (Image: Shutterstock)
Where are the students headed? More Indians are travelling to international destinations, with the number of people taking two or more trips in a year growing by 32%. The top ten most searched countries remain the same as in 2023, accounting for 64% of all international searches on the platform. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi lead the charts for international travel searches, while the UK, Australia and Germany are the most popular student destinations. (Image: Reuters)
Business class isn’t just for business | Interest in luxury travel is on the rise among Indians, with searches for business class flights in the international segment up 10%. Hong Kong shows the highest growth with a 131% increase in searches, followed by Sri Lanka, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Luxury vs Budget: Hotel Choices of Indian Travelers | While Indians are looking for budget-friendly experiences, close to 50% of international hotel bookings are in the ₹7,000+ per night rate bracket. While New York is the most expensive place to book a hotel, South Asian destinations like Pokhara, Pattaya and Kuala Lumpur are emerging as the top destinations for budget stay options.
Who books premium hotels? | Travellers from Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana spend the most on luxury hotel bookings. On the other hand, travellers from Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu show a higher preference for budget hotels.
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Searches for family homes and villas are on the rise | Searches for homestays and villas have increased by 42%. Bali, Dubai and Singapore account for the majority of searches for homestays and villas, while cities such as Interlaken, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Amsterdam and Rome lead the way, with the highest growth in search volumes. (Image: Reuters)
Jet-set for leisure | Around 55% of all trips to international destinations are for leisure, followed by 33% VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel. Thailand is the favourite leisure destination for Indians. A whopping 44% of international travellers from West Bengal chose Thailand as their overseas destination. UAE, Europe, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam are the other top leisure destinations for Indian travellers.
Urban nightlife dominates | More than a third of Indians prefer urban destinations with a vibrant nightlife. Travellers from West Bengal and Punjab make up the bulk of those seeking urban nightlife. Bangkok, Pattaya, Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi and Ho Chi Minh City are the top five destinations for travellers seeking vibrant urban nightlife. Additionally, 23% of Indians also have a tendency towards shopping and luxury, with Dubai and Singapore being the top favourites.
Love for flexibility, security and extra baggage | Japan, Europe, the US and South Korea are the top destinations where Indians opted for zero cancellation for flight bookings. The UAE, Thailand, Europe and the US, on the other hand, had the highest proportion of travellers who purchased travel insurance. Indians also prefer extra baggage – travellers from Rajasthan booked the most extra baggage, followed by those from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Also, Europe, the UAE, Singapore and the US recorded the highest proportion of travellers opting for full refund after visa rejection. (Image: Shutterstock)
Impulsive travel trend | Nearly 50% of international flights and 56% of international hotel rooms are booked less than 14 days before the travel date. Oman, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates record the highest number of last-minute flight bookings, while Qatar, Oman and Azerbaijan lead the way in last-minute hotel bookings. European cities, on the other hand, have the longest advance purchase (AP) windows. (Image: Shutterstock)
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