Indian passengers prefer to go to the UK, the US, and locations in Europe. For internal tourism, Goa, Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, and Kullu are the most popular destinations among Indian visitors.
NEW DELHI According to the most recent data from Airbnb, the number of nights booked by Indian visitors for international travel more than quadrupled in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022. The main international travel destinations for Indians are now the United Kingdom, the United States, and different European nations.
Indians are increasingly pursuing local travel adventures as well as foreign ones, delighting in beach getaways, metropolitan adventures, and peaceful retreats in the hills. The most popular domestic travel destinations are Goa, Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, and Kullu, in that order. When comparing full-year 2022 with pre-pandemic 2019, the total number of nights booked in India increased by 70%, while domestic nights increased by approximately 110%.
Additionally, Airbnb has noticed a persistent interest among visitors from abroad to travel to India and experience the nation’s rich culture and traditions. Along with the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Canada, the United States stands out as the top source of Airbnb visitors to India.
“The strong enthusiasm we are witnessing for travel presents a remarkable opportunity to foster meaningful connections,” said Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It displays the increased assurance and willingness of Indian tourists to discover new places and make lifelong experiences. Along with our thriving host community, we want to make sure India has the variety of lodging options required to capitalise on the travel rebound. We also want to support the promotion of responsible travel habits that enable visitors to genuinely engage with local communities and fully experience the nation’s rich cultural heritage. In order to help and speed up the continuing travel recovery, we’re dedicated to collaborating closely with the government and industry stakeholders.
The travel outlook from Airbnb for 2023
- Exploring off-the-beaten-path locations has attracted a lot of attention in 2023, giving tourists the chance to see new regions without having any preconceived assumptions.
- People are travelling alone more frequently as they look for self-reflection and balance in nature-based activities. Solo travel has become more popular due to its flexibility and independence as well as the desire for quiet and alone in remote locations. According to data from Airbnb, solo travel in India has increased by almost twofold over the same time previous year6.
- The number of Indians using Airbnb to travel with their families has increased significantly year over year, by over 110 percent. Families may stay at Airbnb lodgings since almost 90% of rentals have kitchens, 25% have three bedrooms or more, and over a million have cribs for young children.
- India has also seen a sharp increase in responsible tourism, as tourists are increasingly prioritising trips that support ethical behaviours, such eco-tourism, community-based tourism, and cultural tourism. Responsible travel enables people to form strong connections with local cultures and ways of life, resulting in genuine and distinctive experiences.
- Travellers are also increasingly looking for unconventional venues like treehouses, houseboats, and farm stays, which go beyond the standard lodging options.
Trends in Summer Travel
Indian tourists are avidly embracing both local and foreign sites as the summer season progresses. The top summer travel destinations inside India include Puri, Chennai, Goa, Dehradun, Mumbai, Kochi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Munnar, and Nainital, which all perfectly capture the country’s unique scenery. Internationally, the allure of Bali, Lucerne, Vienna, Paris, Lisbon, Split, Rome, Prague, Singapore, and Bangkok has drawn Indian tourists.
When comparing Q1 2023 to Q1 2022, data on nights booked by Indians for overseas bookings were used as the basis.
2 Based on data from Airbnb reservations between March 31, 2022, and March 31, 2023.
3 Based on data from Airbnb reservations between March 31, 2022, and March 31, 2023.
4 Based on reservations made in India and a comparison of the whole year 2022 with the pre-pandemic year 2019
5 Based on data from Airbnb reservations between March 31, 2022, and March 31, 2023.
Based on statistics from Airbnb bookings between March 31, 2022, and March 31, 2023, compared to March 31, 2021, and March 31, 2022.
Based on Airbnb booking data between March 31, 2022, and March 31, 2023, compared to March 31, 2021, and March 31, 2022.
8 Based on an increase in destination searches (minimum 1000) from Q1 2022 to Q1 2023.
Source: traveldailynews