How India Travels in India and New Trends

The 2024 "How India Travels" report is here , let us   provide a detailed look at the travel behaviors and preferences of Indian travelers, highlighting key trends that have emerged post-pandemic.

1.  Travel Frequency and Destinations : The report shows a 25% increase in the number of people taking more than three trips per year compared to 2019. Notably, spiritual tourism is on the rise, particularly among travelers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, with searches for religious destinations like Ayodhya, Ujjain, and Badrinath increasing by over 300% in the last year.

2.  Booking Preferences : Indians are increasingly making spontaneous travel decisions, with 46% of domestic flights being booked less than a week before departure. For international travel, however, there is a preference for more advanced planning, with 50% of bookings made at least two weeks in advance. Additionally, the report notes gender-specific preferences in seat selection, with women preferring window seats and men opting for aisle seats.

3.  Accommodation Trends : There has been a significant shift towards alternative accommodations such as villas and hostels, particularly among younger travelers and those from southern states. Despite this, a substantial portion of domestic hotel bookings still occurs within a week of travel, while international travelers tend to book their accommodations at least a month in advance.

4.  Payment Methods : UPI has emerged as the most preferred payment method, accounting for nearly 40% of all transactions on the platform. However, credit cards remain popular for higher-value transactions, particularly for international travel.

5.  Gifting Trends : The concept of gifting travel experiences is gaining popularity, with wedding gift cards in the denominations of INR 5,000 and 10,000 being particularly favored.

This report underscores the evolving travel habits of Indian consumers, driven by a combination of spontaneous decisions, a growing interest in spiritual destinations, and the increasing use of digital payment methods