One in every third Indian is looking to travel during upcoming winter holiday season: Goibibo Survey

According to the survey, the holiday season will also witness nearly 60 per cent leisure travellers booking a trip for two or more days.

As the world gears up to welcome the New Year with new hope, optimism and renewed vigour, one in every three Indian is planning to travel and take a holiday during the upcoming Christmas and New Year season. Goibibo conducted a survey among 2000 plus respondents between November 15 to December 5, 2020.

The survey indicates that 60 per cent of the respondents who are willing to travel during the winter holiday season are planning to spend the year end vacationing in the hills or by the beach. Amongst the surveyed, more than 70 per cent are hoping to relax and celebrate with their family, spouse or partner while the rest are looking to end the year travelling with friends and long-not-met colleagues. According to the survey, the holiday season will also witness nearly 60 per cent leisure travellers booking a trip for two or more days.

While travellers are equally split between beaches and mountains as holiday destination of choice in India – they concur the destination has to bring them closer to nature and be scenic more than anything else. While nearly 70 per cent respondents want to spend time outdoors, soaking in the sights or doing adventure activities like rafting, hiking, water sport or just sightseeing; only 20 per cent respondents are looking to wrap the year at bars or parties. As safety remains paramount, survey responders gave highest preference to sanitisation, hygiene and safety certification in their order of priority while choosing their stay option.

Commenting on the travel trends, Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder & Group CEO, MakeMyTrip Limited, Goibibo shared, Pent-up wanderlust is real and these survey findings reflect that Indians are finding new ways to fulfill their travel aspirations and are confidently stepping forward when assured of safe travel choices. Over the past few months, we have worked closely and creatively with the entire travel and hospitality value chain to raise safety standards and help customers make the journey from being homebound to being travellers again.”

“Bookings for the winter festive holiday season on Goibibo indicate an increase in travel to domestic leisure destinations including Goa, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, Pondicherry, Coorg, Shimla, Manali and Darjeeling. As we step into 2021, we are confident of a continued upward travel trend that will find more force as mass vaccine rollout plan materialises,” he added.

The survey also shows that long distance leisure travel has made a strong comeback while drive-through holidays continue to remain a preferred option amongst Indian travellers.  50 per cent travellers across all demographics and cohorts are willing to opt for air travel for the upcoming winter holiday season. In addition, safety takes a front seat with about 90 per cent of the respondents willing to spend more on safety, hygiene and sanitisation facilities during their stay. Some of the parameters that travellers are actively considering while booking a hotel include availability of sanitised and trained staff with protective gears (46 per cent), regular deep cleaning and sanitisation of rooms (46 per cent) and COVID free certified hotels (41 per cent) among others.

Travellers are also looking forward to relax and unwind at a hotel, resort or villa that offers plentiful on premise engagement activities. Findings reveal that almost 50 per cent of the surveyed are keen on opting for properties that offer bonfire, barbecue options and a private party place options on Christmas and New Year’s Eve; and 37 per cent are looking for in-house dining options that serve a variety of local delicacies allowing travellers to indulge in local delicacies of the destination.


Tags assigned to this article:
New Year's Eve

Advertisement

Around The World

Advertisement