Indians look forward to festive season

The festive season (September to November) has become one of the most eagerly awaited in recent years. After the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, tourism activity is picking up again, as travellers’ desire for new destinations and experiences increases.

TT Bureau

Ahead of the festival season, tourism activity is picking up again, as travellers’ desire for new destinations and new experiences increases once again.

This is suggested by search data from KAYAK.co.in, the world’s leading travel search engine, which has analysed flight searches for the 2022 festive season travel period. The data shows fight searches from airports in India have increased by about 118 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels. International flight searches have increased by about 143 per cent and domestic flight searches have increased by about 91 per cent. Indian travellers do not appear to be deterred by higher flight prices either, which compared to 2019 have increased by about 38 per cent for international flights and by about 39 per cent for domestic flights. The average cost of a return economy domestic flight during the festive period is about `8,585, and about `56,332 for a return international economy flight.

“The stars are aligned for Indians to take that much-awaited trip as restrictions worldwide are eased or removed entirely, just in time for the country’s festive period to set in. It appears that Indian travellers are making up for lost time and are more willing to travel than before the pandemic, according to the number of searches carried out on KAYAK.co.in. In addition to flight interest surpassing pre-pandemic levels, we have also seen searches for hotels surpass that of 2019,” said Tarun Tahiliani, India Country Manager, KAYAK.

The data analysis reveals the travel trends for Indians to enjoy this festive season period, including how their travel habits and where they are heading this year, as well as the inbound tourism trends shaping the festive season 2022.

Search insights over the festive travel period:

Hotel searches up: Hotel searches by Indian travellers have increased by about 34 per cent compared to 2019, with domestic hotel searches increased about 98 per cent.

Hotel prices up slightly: International prices for one night in a double room in 3-4 star hotel international hotel rooms have increased by about 22 per cent compared to 2019 for Indian users, and for domestic hotel rooms by about 25 per cent.

Shorter international trips: Although searches indicate Indian travellers will be travelling more this festive season, the duration of their vacations looks to be shorter than in 2019 for international travel at 24 days (decreasing about 13 per cent on 2019), based on flight search data.

Longer domestic trips: The average trip duration, according to flight search data, is about 6 days in 2022 (increasing by a day compared to 2019).

Search insights on inbound travel to India over the festive season:

The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Qatar, New Zealand, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia are the top nations that support inbound tourism to India according to flight searches.

Inbound travellers have shown a preference for major Indian cities, with the most searched hotels being New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

Inbound tourists can expect about a 31 per cent increase in return economy flight costs to India compared to the same period in 2019, and to find hotels in India for about 10 per cent more per night in a double room in a 3-4 star hotel during the travel period.