25 pc jump in Indians taking over 3 trips per year: MakeMyTrip study
Family travel bookings surged by 64 pc in 2023 compared to 2022
MakeMyTrip, a leading online travel company, has released the first edition of India Travel Trends Report that is based on insights from the travel searches of over 100 million annual active users.
In a press statement, the travel company says that the report delves into the evolving behaviours and preferences of Indian travellers, shedding light on key trends shaping the domestic and international travel landscape.
The report includes insights into where, when, and how India travels, along with top trends from millions of journeys nationwide and regionally.
One of the highlights of the report is that the number of Indians taking more than three trips per year has surged by 25 pc in 2023 compared to 2019. Moreover, Tier-II and Tier-III cities are increasingly embracing spiritual journeys, with searches for religious destinations growing by 97 pc in the last two years, says the report, adding that searches for Ayodhya grew by 585 pc, Ujjain by 359 pc and Badrinath by 343 pc in 2023 as compared to 2022.
Meanwhile, weekend getaways continue to curry favour with Indian travellers as searches for Jim Corbett National Park grew by 131 pc in 2023 as compared to 2022 and Ooty and Munnar are other favourites in this context.
The statement adds that family travel bookings surged by 64 pc in 2023 compared to 2022, while solo travel reported 23 pc growth. The travel company says that flight booking preferences indicate a preference for daytime flights, with 50 pc of all domestic flyers choosing flights between 09:00 and 18:00. It adds that spontaneous travel bookings are prevalent in India, with 46 pc of domestic flights booked less than a week before the travel date. While women prefer pre-booking window seats, men opt for aisle seats.
Rajesh Magow
MakeMyTrip says that accommodation preferences show that 56 pc of domestic leisure hotel bookings are made less than a week before travel. Mobile payment platform UPI emerged as the most preferred payment method for travel bookings, constituting close to 40 pc of all transaction types, says the report.
“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 the latest essential trends. 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. This means crafting policies, identifying destinations, and creating experiences that resonate with the traveller’s unique travel preferences and aspirations. 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,” says Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip.
In terms of budget, the report says that for hostels and apartments, the preference is for those costing less than INR 2,500 per night but for villas, it is higher and that close to 20 pc of family travellers searched for properties with tariffs over INR 10,000 per night.
