TravTalk India Online Magazine
Yatra Prime is a game-changing subscription offering that enhances the way customers experience travel with a wide range of exceptional benefits. This remarkable subscription offering sets Yatra apart as a trailblazer, providing customers with unparalleled benefits that redefine the travel experience, bringing it to new heights of luxury and convenience.
TT Bureau
Due to a rapid increase in digitization post the COVID-19 pandemic, tourists have begun to expect personalized services according to their pre-requisites, seamless travel experience and a prompt response to their queries regarding travel. The new trends are shaping travellers’ experiences and vacation choices. New trends and technological advancements while exhibiting such trends promise an even more interactive and exciting experience, which has changed the way we travel in this era. Knowing and understanding the current trends allow those in the industry to tailor their operations to meet consumer demand. It is pertinent for tourism businesses to stay up to date.
Millennials have also played a substantial role in this paradigm shift. They love to travel and are passionate about new technological displays. This combined interest has paved a path to a new context where social media, apps, blogs, and so much more have an important part to play when it’s time to plan a trip. In this digital age, with user-generated recommendations, and hotels/ hostels providing digital solutions for a personalized experience, the customers can themselves create more touchpoints and channels while making their travel decisions.
We spoke to India’s leading travel services provider, Yatra Online Limited (Yatra), to compile a list of top trends that travellers should expect for this year.
Cancellation protection – with zero cancellation fee!
As travellers plan and book their next trip, they are doing so knowing that these plans could still be interrupted by illness or any other change in travel plan. The cancellation protection feature facilitates the traveller to book in advance and this is immensely beneficial when you are planning in advance and do not want your money getting stuck. Considering this, it’s not surprising that one of the key tourism trends of the past year has been flexible booking policies. Most booking apps guarantee free cancellation, however, charge a premium while the booking is processed adding it to your total cost. Yatra is offering an additional benefit of “free cancellation protection” on all domestic flight bookings. “With cancellation protection feature, we aim to provide a safety net for our customers, ensuring that they can travel with confidence,” says Dhruv Shringi, Co-Founder & CEO, Yatra.com
Book now, pay later
Domestic and international travels have picked up since the pandemic but, be it budget travel or solo backpacking, there are no free lunches anywhere. Rising hotel rates and inflation have also increased the cost of travel. Travel companies and their payment partners are, hence, offering ‘Book Now, Pay Later’ travel schemes for tourists to enjoy travelling. Travel BNPL or travel now, pay later schemes also advance to interest free EMIs for three and six-month EMI payment tenures. This feature gives travellers the option of paying back after returning from the trip in instalments without interest for a period ranging from a few days to a few months.
Flexi-stay
Another problem faced by travellers these days is checking-in a hotel for a few hours but having to pay the tariff for an entire day. In Flexi stays, whether you stay at a hotel for as short as four hours or span it over a period of three days, you pay only for the duration stayed at the hotel. Travellers can now enjoy their stays and not have to pay extra for additional hours.
Yatra Prime
Yatra Prime subscription unlocks a world of advantages for its members, making travel more affordable, convenient, and enjoyable. Key features of Yatra Prime encompass numerous benefits that go beyond expectations, such as no convenience fees over and above all on-going offers, special fares on domestic air tickets, and access to dedicated and on-priority VIP customer support. In addition to the exceptional benefits of Yatra Prime, subscribers can look forward to milestone-based rewards that further enhance the membership experience. To celebrate the launch, Yatra is offering a special introductory offer for the first 10,000 subscribers. These lucky members will enjoy exclusive benefits and privileges tailored to enhance their travel experiences even further.
Yatra Prime offers the best deals to their valued customers through all their channels, wherein customers can avail zero convenience fees, along with ongoing bank promotions and deals – offering a significant advantage and savings for the traveller. During the membership period, customers will also have the opportunity to earn Yatra vouchers by achieving spending milestones of Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 2 lakh, and up to Rs. 10 lakh.
Sustainable Travel & Responsible Tourism
From an economic standpoint, sustainable travel and responsible tourism are two major keywords that are transforming the way people travel and the impact that tourism has on the world. These have become increasingly popular in recent years as travellers become more aware of the impact of their choices and seek out more ethical and sustainable ways to explore the world. Sustainable travel and responsible tourism involve reducing carbon footprints, supporting local communities, and preserving natural and cultural resources. There has been a noticeable rise in weekend getaway trips like nature retreats and luxury resorts around big metro cities. Hostels are also now offering long stay options with high-speed internet and have become more popular. Therefore, they aim to create a more responsible and sustainable travel industry that benefits both travellers and the destinations they visit. As more and more people embrace these trends, travel companies are also adapting by offering sustainable and responsible travel options that align with these values. This shift towards more sustainable and responsible tourism is a key trend that is revolutionizing travel space and has the potential to create a positive impact on the world. “Yatra Prime aims to surpass expectations of travellers by providing unparalleled value and charging zero convenience,” says Dhruv Shringi, Co-Founder & CEO, Yatra.com
Wellness Travel
Wellness and improving quality of life is fuelling travel in 2023. Wellness and well-being are no longer being looked at as an extravagance and are instead considered responsible investments and priority elements of one’s daily routines. People are starting to invest more on self-care and health, especially after being confined to their homes during COVID. The travel experts at Yatra stated, they have seen 90 per cent growth in people booking wellness resorts and hotels. Some consider hiking and biking, while others opt for a spa weekend or a yoga retreat. Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, and rejuvenation are the main aspects that the country takes pride in and the plethora of destinations offering this is also a factor contributed to the rise of wellness travel.
