Average monthly domestic and international bookings increasing by over 30 pc in summer season
An increasing number of Indians are heading to the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka when it comes to international travel, says travel fintech firm Scapia.
In a press statement, Scapia, which recorded several new trends on Indians’ travel shenanigans this summer, says the summer of 2024 recorded a notable rise in travel bookings, with average monthly domestic and international bookings increasing by over 30 pc from February to May 2024 compared to January 2024.
While Paris, London and San Francisco were also in the top 10 destinations of choice, Southeast Asian countries were the flavour of the summer, according to data.
Scapia says it observed that 35 pc of stays booked in the summer season, accounting for February to May, for international destinations were in Southeast Asian countries, including lesser-known destinations like Penida Island in Indonesia, Nonthaburi in Thailand, and Kowloon in Hong Kong.
The data says that spur-of-the-moment plans, and the desire for hassle-free travel resulted in a growth in the influx to visa-free countries. Scapia observed a 64 pc increase in average monthly flight bookings to visa-free countries this summer compared to January.
Destinations like Qatar, Kazakhstan and Kenya made it to the travellers’ list, in addition to Asian favourites like Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Flying solo: Indian travellers embrace independence with solo journeys
Scapia says that solo travel has also gained significant popularity among Indian travellers, reflecting a growing trend towards independent adventure.
According to the firm, Southeast Asia remains a top destination choice for solo travellers, with Thailand and Malaysia experiencing a notable four-times increase in popularity.
It adds that Nepal is gaining popularity among solo travellers too, experiencing a threefold increase in bookings.
Notably, women travellers in India took the lead in solo travel this summer, showcasing a 47 pc growth in bookings on Scapia, outpacing men by 8 percentage points, who saw a 39 pc rise in solo travel in February to May compared to January 2024.
The statement says that this trend is complemented by a rise in travel bookings to domestic hotspots like Goa and international favourites like Thailand. Women’s greater engagement in solo travel reflects a positive shift in the Indian travel and tourism market.
Scapia says that this shift can be attributed to advancements in technology that offer real-time travel support, improved security measures, and the abundance of travel information available online.
