A 25% increase in Indians taking more than 3 trips per year: MakeMyTrip study

Bookings for family travel increased by 64 percent in 2023 compared to 2022

A report by leading Online Travel Agency (OTA) MakeMyTtrip has revealed key findings about the travel habits of Indians.

MakeMyTrip, a leading online travel company, has released the first edition of India Travel Trends Report which is based on insights from the travel searches of over 100 million annual active users.

In a press statement, the travel company said the report addresses the evolving behavior and preferences of Indian travelers and sheds light on the key trends shaping the domestic and international travel landscape.

The report includes insights into where, when and how India travels, along with top trends from millions of trips nationwide and regionally.

One of the highlights of the report is that the number of Indians taking more than three trips a year has increased by 25 percent by 2023 compared to 2019. Moreover, Tier-II and Tier-III cities are increasingly embracing spiritual trips, with searches for religious destinations have grown by 97 percent in the past two years, the report says, adding that searches for Ayodhya will increase by 585 percent, Ujjain by 359 percent and Badrinath by 343 percent by 2023 compared to 2022.

Meanwhile, weekend getaways continue to resonate with Indian travelers as searches for Jim Corbett National Park grew 131 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, with Ooty and Munnar being other favorites in this context.

The statement adds that family travel bookings increased by 64 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, while solo travel reported a growth of 23 percent. The travel company says its flight booking preferences indicate a preference for daytime flights, with 50 percent of all domestic flyers opting for flights between 9am and 6pm. The report adds that spontaneous travel bookings are common in India, with 46% of domestic flights booked less than a week before the travel date. While women prefer to reserve window seats in advance, men opt for aisle seats.

Rajesh Magow

MakeMyTrip says accommodation preferences show that 56 percent of domestic holiday hotel bookings are made less than a week before travel. Mobile payment platform UPI emerged as the most preferred payment method for travel bookings, accounting for nearly 40% of all transaction types, the report said.

“Understanding the evolving travel behavior of Indian travelers is essential to shaping the future of tourism, both nationally and globally. MakeMyTrips India Travel Trends Report highlights some of the latest essential trends. As India emerges as a formidable force in the tourism sector, these insights can help bridge the supply and demand gaps in the travel and hospitality sector. This means establishing policies, identifying destinations and creating experiences that resonate with travelers’ unique travel preferences and aspirations. Recognizing and catering to the diverse behavior of each traveler will not only enhance the travel experience but also contribute significantly to the growth and development of the tourism industry,” said Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip.

In terms of budget, the report says that for hostels and apartments, accommodations costing less than INR 2,500 per night are preferred, but for villas it is higher and almost 20% of family travelers looked for accommodations with rates above INR 10,000. per night.