As Indians embark on journeys to discover new experiences, they are becoming more mindful of the consequences of their choices, with most Indians or about 87 pc prioritising sustainability, says a study by Agoda.

With more and more Indians turning towards mindful travel, almost 87 pc of Indian travellers care about more sustainable travel, finds a recent survey by Agoda, a travel platform.

In a press statement, Agoda says that respondents highlighted financial incentives, the availability of sustainable travel packages and clearer guidance on sustainable travel practices could encourage them to make more sustainable choices on their next trip.

Agoda says that with over 10,000 respondents polled from 10 markets across Asia, almost 8 in 10 travellers stating their willingness to make more sustainable travel choices. About 18 pc of respondents indicated that they would always make every effort to ensure they travel more sustainably.

It adds that still 22 pc of travellers rarely consider sustainability in their travel decisions, with Japan’s travellers least concerned, accounting for 45 pc versus only 8 pc of travellers from the Philippines.

According to Agoda’s Eco Deals Survey, in all markets, financial incentives came out on top, with an average of 45 pc of respondents highlighting incentives like discounts as the key factor. This sentiment was particularly strong in Singapore, accounting for 58 pc, Taiwan at 54 pc and Indonesia at 47 pc.

Agoda says that about 41 pc of Indian travellers opted for incentives or discounts as a core driver. The availability of sustainable travel packages ranked second, with offerings ranging from guided conservation hikes to supporting local initiatives of more interest to travellers from the Philippines at 28 pc, Vietnam at 24 pc and Thailand at 23 pc.

Agoda says that clear guidelines on sustainable travel practices at 3rd place, followed by education and awareness on environmental impact and relevant sustainability policies from the local government completed the top five.

“The message is loud and clear: Travellers want to make more sustainable choices. Agoda’s Eco Deals Programme offers travellers a range of great value deals on selected properties, and for every booking, Agoda donates one US dollar to local conservation projects of World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF). With a total donation target of up to one million US dollars, we are helping travellers to see the world for less, and do their part to give back to the destinations they care about,” says Enric Casals, Associate Vice President at Agoda.

When asked which sustainable travel practices travellers from India prioritise on their trips, supporting local communities and conservation projects came out on top with 29 pc of the respondents choosing this practice. The sentiment was the same across Asia, with over a quarter or 26 pc of the respondents on average choosing this option.