A thorough report capturing the changing trends and preferences among Indian travellers was released by TravClan, a global B2B travel tech platform. The report provides information and challenges the widespread belief that India is a market that is sensitive to price. Indian tourists, who have historically been known for their frugal travel habits, are now more willing to pay a premium for enriching experiences. This shift can be seen in the fact that 50% of flight bookings increased despite a 30% increase in flight prices and that 50% of hotel reservations were made for branded chains. Today’s Indian traveller places equal value on comfort and high-quality experiences as they do on price.
The report, which was derived from a thorough analysis of more than 200,000 travel reservations made on TravClan’s platform during the first half of 2023, provides invaluable insights into India’s expanding domestic and international travel markets. With over 400,000 passengers flying every day, air travel is still the preferred mode of transportation for Indian tourists. Additionally, this year has seen a remarkable 30% increase in group travel. While price is still important, new-age audiences and premium travellers place more emphasis on factors like on-time arrival and comfort. The airline industry is changing as a result of this emphasis on quality services and brand reputation. Underscoring the shift towards experiential travel, a rising preference for reserving exclusive properties, such as entire villas, for a customised and comfortable vacation experience has also been noted.
It’s interesting to note that even flight booking patterns have changed: 60% of international travellers book their flights far in advance, compared to only 15% of domestic travellers, indicating a rise in impromptu travel. The report also emphasises how tourists are actively seeking out less well-known locations rather than just travelling along well-worn paths. Customers are inspired to travel by a variety of sources, including social media, recommendations from friends or coworkers, and brand marketing campaigns.
In line with the expanding trend of experiential travel, more than 50% of travellers are currently looking for and enquiring about unusual locations. Recognizing these evolving motivations, TravClan is empowering travel agents with B2C marketing tools, including posters and materials, to help them reach their customers and convert more bookings.
Speaking on this, Arun Bagaria, Co-founder & CEO, TravClan, said, “With a surge in domestic travel and a steady recovery in international travel, travellers are prioritizing quality experiences and seeking quality and comfort alongside affordability. At TravClan, we embrace this transformative phase, empowering travel agents to deliver seamless travel experiences and create lasting memories for valued customers.”
Further, digital transformation has marked a significant shift in how the industry operates. Over 30% of travel agents at TravClan, now have their own fully-equipped websites, showcasing customer testimonials, video tours, daily news, and blogs. Extensive research by travelers has resulted in longer booking times, as individuals seek expert advice and recommendations before embarking on their journeys. To meet this demand, travel agents are dedicating significant time to destination and platform learning.
Chirag Agrawal, Co-founder of TravClan added, “Government initiatives like UDAN and Dekho Apna Desh have greatly boosted domestic tourism. Improved air connectivity, spontaneous trip planning, and regional travel trends all point towards an optimistic future for the Indian travel industry. These trends offer immense opportunities for travel agents and the industry as a whole.”
Other key insights include:
Domestic air connectivity encourages travellers to cover longer distances for short vacations to locations such as Kerala and Kashmir.
Corporate clients are increasingly booking stays at branded hotels for retreats and off-site meetings.
Destinations like Himachal Pradesh and Kerala account for nearly 25% of all domestic tourism on the TravClan platform.
Experiential travel trends have boosted the utilization of local travel agents who offer personalized experiences.
Travellers are investing more time in researching destinations before booking, increasing the time to book by up to 20%.
Travel agents are focusing more on learning and upskilling, with an average agent dedicating about 20-30% of their time to learning about new destinations.
Travel package bookings have risen, indicating travellers’ preference for well planned experiences along with completely planned itinerary.
Source- Travel biz
