This increased affordability, coupled with initiatives to boost tourism, signals a promising outlook for India’s travel industry
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
Article: India’s travel industry is undergoing a transformative phase, driven by the country’s expanding economic influence and the increasing confidence of its travelers. The first half of 2024 witnessed a significant surge in both outbound and inbound tourism, with the Trevolution Group reporting a 46% market growth compared to the same period last year. This growth is not merely a recovery from the pandemic but signifies a deeper shift in Indian travel patterns, according to a report from Skift.com.
Trans-Pacific flights have particularly experienced a remarkable increase, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This surge is attributed to enhanced flight connectivity, a strong economic outlook, and the aspirations of a burgeoning middle class eager to explore global destinations.
While traditional leisure tourism remains robust, the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment has seen substantial growth. This trend highlights the deep connections of the Indian diaspora, notably the 4.4 million Indian Americans, who are making more frequent trips back to India.
The next growth phase is likely to see more Indians exploring international destinations
Trevolution Group, which facilitated the sale of over 54,000 airline tickets to and from India in the first half of 2024, finds these trends highly encouraging. The company’s 68% increase in outbound tourism sales and 37% growth in inbound tourism underscore India’s significance as a key market.
Indian travelers are becoming more discerning, seeking both value and flexibility in their travel plans. This shift is evident in the increased demand for round-trip tickets, as well as a notable rise in one-way tickets, reflecting a preference for adaptable travel options. Last-minute bookings have also surged as travelers take advantage of more affordable and accessible international flights.
As airfares continue to stabilize and even decrease—Economy class fares to India dropped by 27% and Business class fares by 8.5% in the first half of 2024—international travel is becoming more accessible to a broader segment of the population. The average Economy ticket price to India stood at $894.32 during this period, further contributing to the surge in travel.
“India remains a key market for Trevolution Group, consistently demonstrating strong growth in air travel year after year. It was also one of the first markets to rebound to pre-pandemic levels by 2021,” said Alex Weinstein, founder of Dyninno Group, which restructured and rebranded as the Trevolution Group in 2022.
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com