Int’l travel lags despite surge in bookings

According to RateGain, a software solutions provider for the travel and hospitality sector, Singapore was the top destination for flight bookings, followed by San Francisco, Melbourne, Toronto, and Bali. The company’s data platform Adara collects captures insights from around 300 travel brands including airlines, hotel chains, tourism organizations, OTAs, and luxury retailers.

According to the research findings shared with Mint, Indian couples are keen on western countries, with the US, Canada, and the UK emerging as the most frequently booked destinations for the summer season. In Asia, Bali and Singapore have gained popularity.

Europe was noticeably absent from many holiday plans, likely due to visa issues. Last month, Mint had reported on the visa processing delays faced by Indian tourists intending to visit the Schengen area, comprising 27 European nations.

While some travel operators said European embassies failed to anticipate the rising demand from India, others attributed the delay to visa-processing companies such as VFS Global.

The research said that for families from India, the most favoured destinations include the US, Singapore, UAE, Canada and Thailand. Solo travellers predominantly choose the US, Canada, and the UK as their top destinations, while Thailand remains a popular choice for leisure travel among solo travellers.

Destinations like Qatar and the UAE are also witnessing increased bookings from solo travellers, primarily for business purposes rather than leisure.

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These locations have become significant hubs for business-related activities, attracting solo travellers seeking professional engagements and opportunities.

Among family travellers tracked, approximately 19.8% booked hotels with an average daily rate of $400 (approximately ₹33,000). It is noteworthy that this particular segment of family travellers booked twice as many rooms at this rate compared to couples.

“These trends indicate that the Indian travel market is recovering from the pandemic, with a focus on leisure travel concentrated in western countries. Business travel is also recovering in locations like the US, Canada, and the UK. Families are travelling more and are booking higher-priced hotels,” said the company’s spokesperson.