The 2023 edition of Booking.com’s APAC Travel Confidence Index (TCI) has been made public. The study provides perceptions into the attitudes of APAC travellers and the significant influence that economic and global concerns have on their travel choices. India is the nation with the second-most confident passengers out of the 11 APAC nations surveyed, just behind Hong Kong. After Singapore and Taiwan, China comes in third.
This year’s research reveals a startling paradox: a remarkable 86% of Indian travellers are brimming with optimism about their future travel plans, while 61% have no intention of postponing their travel plans in the next 12 months, in spite of complex global challenges like inflation, geopolitical instability, climate change, and supply chain disruptions. What’s more interesting is that more than half of these travellers (59%) plan to maintain or even increase the number of trips they take, and 68% want to increase their travel spend for the coming year.
Key Findings
- Despite economic difficulties, 86% of Indian travellers are optimistic about their next travel plans, and 61% say they won’t be delaying their travels in the upcoming year.
- Indian travellers are more likely to want to explore their own country (43%), think that travel may help people improve personally (40%), and want to make important connections (33%).
- Three out of five people would prefer to travel over the long weekends, and the majority would like to visit North or South India.
- When it comes to travel experiences, Indian tourists like to go for natural beauty and picturesque locales, then beaches and cuisine
- More than half of Indian visitors (57%) create thorough itineraries in advance, along with reservations for lodging, activities, and meals, and 60% believe that having access to Indian food is essential.
Travelling Patterns
Indians stand out for their unusual travel behaviours, especially in how they approach itineraries and how much attention they place on cuisine. More than half (57%) prefer to follow a set schedule and reserve their lodging, activities, and meals in advance. This suggests a desire for a planned travel experience and the confidence that requested services will be booked in advance. While they are open to exploring different cuisines, a substantial number (60%) consider it crucial to have access to Indian food when deciding on travel plans.
Indian visitors are more likely than other travellers to discover their own country (43%) and make lasting friendships (33%). When it comes to destinations they would like to explore domestically, a majority of the respondents (71%) want to travel to North India, 60% lean towards destinations in South India, 41% West India, 37% North East India, 16% East India and 13% opted for Central India.
Travel Inspiration
Travel is one of the most apparent desires of people across the APAC region, providing an escape from the daily routine. For 3 in 5 APAC travellers, their top motivation to travel is the pursuit of relaxation, rejuvenation and an escape from the chaos of everyday life. However, when it comes to Indian travellers besides the desire for a relaxing vacation (57%), other travel motivators include the desire to learn about their travel destinations (34%) and to immerse in the local culture (26%).
Leading Travel Issues
While there is a strong desire to travel, there are some travel concerns that are also facing travellers in India and across APAC.
- 39% of Indian travellers consider taking time away from work as one of the main challenges when planning a trip (Hong Kong 37%, Singapore 35%)
- 34% have financial concerns when choosing to embark on their travel (Thailand 57%, New Zealand 55%)
- 32% of Indian travellers wishing to travel outside the country are concerned about the complicated, expensive and time-consuming visa processes (Singapore 26%, Vietnam 25%)
- Additionally, environmental issues emerge as another significant concern, reflecting the growing awareness and consciousness towards sustainable travel practices among travellers in the region.
To save on travel costs 39% stated that they are inclined to plan their trips around travel discounts and deals, 38% would travel during off-peak season and 36% would take advantage of staying with friends or family to save on travel costs.
Top Places and Activities of Interest while Travelling
When it comes to travel experiences, Indian travellers show a significant inclination towards nature and scenic locations (67%), indicating a desire to immerse themselves in the beauty of natural landscapes followed by beaches (63%) and food and dining (57%), that also holds a strong appeal. Other activities of interest include tourist attractions and landmarks (56%), local culture and lifestyle (55%) and shopping (52%). As compared to Indians, when it comes to APAC travellers like to seek out food followed by nature, tourist attractions and beaches.
“The survey clearly demonstrated that despite the ongoing global and economic hurdles, there is a prevailing sense of positivity and enthusiasm among travellers. A significant 84% of respondents are actively planning their next trip within the upcoming 12 months,” said Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com. “Along with the high travel confidence that places India among the top three countries, Indian travellers are also most keen to prioritise sustainable travel. Our Travel Confidence Index 2023 shows that despite certain macroeconomic headwinds and fewer COVID-19 restrictions, APAC travellers’ spirit of adventure and desire to make lifelong travel memories remain unwavering and robust. We are confident that the travel sector will continue to thrive in the years to come with this zest and enthusiasm for travelling among people.”
Source: travelbizmonitor