Posted on by Jerome Anthony

Top-8 travel trends Indians are leaning towards: Check which category do you fall in

The thirst for travel among Indians is increasing by the day. Be it spiritual travel, family vacations, solo sojourns or exploring destinations with friends, these trends have gained momentum post the COVID-19 pandemic. MakeMyTrip launched its inaugural India Travel Trends Report recently, which highlights the ever-changing preferences and behaviour of over 10 crore active Indian travellers, both at home and abroad. (Image: Reuters)
The thirst for travel among Indians is increasing by the day. Be it spiritual travel, family vacations, solo sojourns or exploring destinations with friends, these trends have gained momentum post the COVID-19 pandemic. MakeMyTrip launched its inaugural India Travel Trends Report recently, which highlights the ever-changing preferences and behaviour of over 10 crore active Indian travellers, both at home and abroad. (Image: Shutterstock)
Makemytrip
Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, revealed that the report is based on the travel portal’s expansive user basis and emphasised the importance of insights in bridging the gap between demand and supply within the industry, the report sheds light on key patterns in where, when, and how Indians embark on their journeys. Let’s take a look at the latest top-10 travel trends that Indians are leaning towards, in no particular order. (Image: Reuters)
No 1. Multiple trips annually | A notable trend highlighted in the report is the surge in Indians taking multiple trips annually, with a 25% increase in 2023 compared to 2019. (Image: Shutterstock)
No 2. Religious travel | Tier-2 and tier-3 cities are increasingly drawn to spiritual odysseys, with searches for religious destinations soaring by 97% over the past two years. (Image: PTI)
No 2. Religious travel | Tier-2 and tier-3 cities are increasingly drawn to spiritual odysseys, with searches for religious destinations soaring by 97% over the past two years. (Image: PTI)
No 3. Weekend getaways | Meanwhile, weekend getaways have continued to capture hearts, with destinations like Jim Corbett witnessing a remarkable 131% spike in searches.
No 3. Weekend getaways | Meanwhile, weekend getaways have continued to capture hearts, with destinations like Jim Corbett witnessing a remarkable 131% spike in searches. (Image: Shutterstock)
No 4. International trips and destinations | On the international front, destinations like Dubai, Bangkok, and Singapore hold sway, while emerging gems like Hong Kong and Almaty capture the imagination of Indian travellers. (Image: Reuters)
No 4. International trips and destinations | On the international front, destinations like Dubai, Bangkok, and Singapore hold sway, while emerging gems like Hong Kong and Almaty capture the imagination of Indian travellers. (Image: Reuters)
No 5. Family travel | Delving deeper into behavioural nuances, the report revealed that family travel bookings saw a substantial uptick of 64% in 2023. (Image: William D'souza)
No 5. Family travel | Delving deeper into behavioural nuances, the report revealed that family travel bookings saw a substantial uptick of 64% in 2023. (Image: William D’souza)
No 6. Spontaneous versus planned travel | While planned family vacations saw a rise in bookings, spontaneous bookings were lower with 46% made less than a week before travel.
No 6. Spontaneous versus planned travel | While planned family vacations saw a rise in bookings, spontaneous bookings were lower with 46% made less than a week before travel.
No 7. Instant payment versus travel on credit | Payment preferences lean towards UPI for most transactions, while credit cards reign supreme for high-value transactions such as international bookings. (Image: Shutterstock)
No 8. Gifting options | The thriving culture of gifting experiences is evident, with wedding gift cards emerging as the favored choice, highlighting the allure of travel as a meaningful gift. (Image: Shutterstock)