As India continues to evolve as a significant contributor to global tourism, the insights from Videc’s report underscore the need for tailored marketing strategies and enhanced cooperation between travel professionals in the Middle East and Indian travel enterprises
A recent report by Videc, a boutique advisory and analytics firm in travel, tourism, and hospitality, has highlighted India’s rapid ascent as a crucial source market for global tourism. The ‘2023 Indian Traveller Behaviour and Insights Report’ was unveiled at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 in Dubai, providing a comprehensive overview of the shifting dynamics in Indian travel behaviour.
According to the report, a striking 84% of India’s international travellers were embarking on their first international trip, with Thailand, the UAE, and Singapore emerging as the top destinations. These countries were favored due to their proximity, appealing climate, and rich cultural offerings.
“India’s growing digital proficiency and infrastructural improvements, such as the UDAN scheme, are crucial in shaping India as a dynamic source market for global tourism.”
Virendra Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of Videc, shared significant insights during the ATM session titled “Unlocking the True Potential of Indian Travellers.” Jain’s presentation covered market opportunities, channel and distribution analysis, characteristics of Indian travellers, and projections for outbound travel trends over the next decade. One of the standout findings is that over three-quarters of surveyed Indians prioritize travel and tourism in their discretionary spending.
The report also indicates that 59% of Indian travellers prefer short weekend trips, and 79% choose domestic destinations over international ones. The need for a break from daily life drives 33% of these leisure trips. Furthermore, 69% of travellers book flights well in advance, a stark contrast to the trend of last-minute intercity bus bookings. Jain emphasized that India’s growing digital proficiency and infrastructural improvements, such as the UDAN scheme, are crucial in shaping India as a dynamic source market for global tourism.
Deepak Jain, Co-Author of the report, pointed out the importance of targeted engagement strategies to harness the potential of this growing market. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME at Arabian Travel Market, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of understanding and catering to the unique needs of Indian travellers. Curtis remarked, “Today’s discussion on the Indian travel market highlighted the wealth of opportunities and the strategic importance of nuanced marketing approaches.”
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