According to a data shared to BW Hotelier on the changing trends in booking observed in the summer break, some amazing insights have been collaborated from various OTAs.

SUMMER THE season of blossoms, the season which brings an array of freshness, it is seen as the new beginning for nature. The entire Earth shines with the rays of the sunlight, the green velvet blanket, the blue aura of the sky with the beam of yellow rays of the sun, makes such a lovely scenic beauty that no camera or painter can capture in their lens or the canvas. The season of imperceptible amount of heat has its own beauty and Indian’s very well know how to celebrate the warmth. Many Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs) these days are making huge efforts for the travellers by giving offers. 

Over the year Indian‘s are emerging as travellers, they are exploring new avenues not only at a domestic level but also internationally. The Tourism Industry is growing rapidly and at a faster rate in India as it offers a diverse portfolio of niche tourism products. In the 2019 interim budget, the finance minister has proposed an increase in tax-free income of Indian residents thus pumping up disposable incomes. In addition, there is a multitude of development and infrastructure projects in the country that will further the growth of tourism in India.

Changes in the bookings in the summer season

According to a data shared to BW Hotelier on the changing trends in booking observed in the summer break, some amazing insights have been collaborated from various OTAs.

Rajnish Kumar the Co -Founder of IXIGO said that post Jet airways and Boeing Max 8 crisis, an unprecedented amount of planes were grounded leading to a sharp reduction in seat capacity and an increase in fares overnight. International fares for the peak travel period of May and June increased by an average of 38 percent as compared to the first quarter of the year and domestic fares across key routes rose by 30-35 percent. A 4 percent dip in summer bookings in 2019 was observed as compared to 10 percenr growth seen in 2018. Sharat Dhall, COO (B2C), Yatra and Manmeet Ahluwalia , Marketing Head for Expedia reported that there were 52 percent and 27 percent rise in summer booking respectively.

Preferred Destinations

A survey done by IXIGO shows that social media and Instagram worthy destinations have emerged as one of the most important factors, influencing the travel decisions of the new age traveller. Short haul locations with no-visa or easy visa processes have also witnessed a strong uptake this summer with an increase of over 22 percent in bookings to destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Bali, Vietnam, Qatar and Thailand.

Further in a report by ClearTrip, Balu Ramchandran Senior Vice President said that In terms of destinations, more and more travellers preferred booking short-haul holidays in 2019. Within India and its neighbouring countries, travellers choose destinations that are closer to them. A preference for destinations such as Kathmandu and Leh, while those in Bangalore booked trips to Kochi and Hyderabad. Goa continues to remain popular with travellers on a pan-India level during the summer, while Ahmedabad marked a surprise entry in the list of most travelled-to domestic destinations in 2019 this summer. 

”On the domestic front, destinations like Srinagar, Coorg, Jammu, Coimbatore and Pune were the top picks for vacations this summer,” says Daniel D’ Souza President and Country Head , Leisure of SOTC Travel. 

Parameters for selecting a hotel

D’ Souza further pointed out that the new age travellers are very particular about prioritising their personal needs when looking for holiday accommodation. More importantly, the kind of accommodation depends on the type of traveller. Business travellers have different needs as compared to families, couples, solo travellers, and group travellers. According to Dhall while travelling Indians prefer to choose hotels near the city centre or having its proximity to popular tourist spots.

Wi-Fi connection and cleanliness of rooms is also an important element of a good hotel experience. However, having amenities like a fitness centre, spa facility, sports centre & swimming pools always act as an added incentive for a customer to choose a particular accommodation.

Accommodation

The category of the hotel depends on the disposable income of an individual, as per the data collected by IXIGO it has been noted that Indian travellers are seeking more affordable options including alternative accommodations as compared to 5-star hotels. 65 percent of Indian travellers in 2019 preferred budget accommodations (Rs.2000-Rs.4000) during domestic and international trips. Travellers opting for luxury accommodation (Rs.10,000 and above) have dropped from 25 percent in 2017 to 13 percent in 2019.

Dhall denotes that Yatra has received mixed booking enquiries from travellers when it comes to stay. This is because there is a percentage of travellers who only choose to stay luxuriously while travelling while others look for more budget-friendly options. As per a recent survey conducted by Yatra, 43 percent of the respondents indicated a preference to spare only INR 1000-2500 per night on hotel accommodation thereby opting for accommodation options like hostels, homestays and budget hotels.

“Solo travellers, working millennial, and smaller groups with limited budgets prefer low-cost/budget hotels, inns or lodges, with basic facilities and less space,” said D’souza.

OTAs are aggressively on a practice to provide suitable packages and itineraries for the Indian travellers, in order to motivate people to step out of their houses and enjoy the season of summer vacations.