NEW DELHI: Indians are travelling, and spending, like never before. Compared to pre-Covid times, there has been a 25% increase in the number of people taking more than three trips a year. International bookings are once again being made well in advance instead of sudden travels during the tumultuous 2020 and 2021. These are the findings of MakeMyTrip’s “India Travel Trends Report” based on the travel reaches of its over 10 crore active users.
According to the report, while a third of all international bookings are made more than a month in advance, Kolkata travellers are booking flights within and outside India over three months in advance. “Women prefer to pre-book window seats, while men pick aisle seats. Tomato cucumber cheese lettuce sandwich is the most ordered in-flight meal on domestic flights,” the report finds. Hindu veg is the most chosen meal option for international travellers, Hindu non-veg being the second-most preferred.
“A significant portion of travel bookings in India is made spontaneously, with 46% of domestic flights booked less than a week before the travel date. In contrast, about half of all international bookings are made at least two weeks in advance. Only one-third of international bookings are made more than a month before the travel date, suggesting a flexible approach to international travel planning among Indian travellers,” it adds.
India is witnessing a post-Covid surge in travel which is back in all forms, except international inbound, which is yet to return to 2019 levels. DGCA data shows 2023 saw 15.2 crore domestic flyers, up almost 24% from 12.3 crore in 2022 and nearly 6% more than 14.4 crore in 2019.
The number of international travellers to and from India was 6.39 crore last year, close to the 6.42 crore seen in pre-Covid 2019, and 35% more than 4.7 crore in 2022, as per DGCA data.
MakeMyTrip co-founder and group CEO Rajesh Magow said: “Understanding the evolving travel behaviours of Indian travellers is essential to shape the future of tourismboth domestically and globally. Our report highlights some of the latest essential trends.”
In 2023, family travel bookings surged by 64% compared to 2022, followed by solo traveller booking growth at 23% for the same period, the report says.
While Dec and May are the “most favoured” months for travel, UPI is the most preferred payment method for booking travel, making close to 40% of all transaction types, followed by use of credit cards.
Airlines’ seat selection charges, levied by both low cost and full service, are a big money spinner as “66% domestic and 40% international travellers pre-select their seats.” Middle seats are the least preferred with only 26% pre-selecting them.
According to the report, while a third of all international bookings are made more than a month in advance, Kolkata travellers are booking flights within and outside India over three months in advance. “Women prefer to pre-book window seats, while men pick aisle seats. Tomato cucumber cheese lettuce sandwich is the most ordered in-flight meal on domestic flights,” the report finds. Hindu veg is the most chosen meal option for international travellers, Hindu non-veg being the second-most preferred.
“A significant portion of travel bookings in India is made spontaneously, with 46% of domestic flights booked less than a week before the travel date. In contrast, about half of all international bookings are made at least two weeks in advance. Only one-third of international bookings are made more than a month before the travel date, suggesting a flexible approach to international travel planning among Indian travellers,” it adds.
India is witnessing a post-Covid surge in travel which is back in all forms, except international inbound, which is yet to return to 2019 levels. DGCA data shows 2023 saw 15.2 crore domestic flyers, up almost 24% from 12.3 crore in 2022 and nearly 6% more than 14.4 crore in 2019.
The number of international travellers to and from India was 6.39 crore last year, close to the 6.42 crore seen in pre-Covid 2019, and 35% more than 4.7 crore in 2022, as per DGCA data.
MakeMyTrip co-founder and group CEO Rajesh Magow said: “Understanding the evolving travel behaviours of Indian travellers is essential to shape the future of tourismboth domestically and globally. Our report highlights some of the latest essential trends.”
In 2023, family travel bookings surged by 64% compared to 2022, followed by solo traveller booking growth at 23% for the same period, the report says.
While Dec and May are the “most favoured” months for travel, UPI is the most preferred payment method for booking travel, making close to 40% of all transaction types, followed by use of credit cards.
Airlines’ seat selection charges, levied by both low cost and full service, are a big money spinner as “66% domestic and 40% international travellers pre-select their seats.” Middle seats are the least preferred with only 26% pre-selecting them.