Key Highlights
- 52% Millennials are keen to take an International Holiday this summer season
- 75% Millennials would prefer foreign destinations with fewer Covid cases
- 71% Millennials would want to go to destinations with defined Covid protocols.
- Thailand (62%), Singapore (58%), UAE (52%), Maldives (46%), Saudi Arabia (40%), Malaysia (39%), Indonesia (39%), Sri Lanka (36%), Bhutan (31%), Turkey (28%) and Seychelles (24%) are the top short-haul destinations preferred by Millennials this summer season.
- France (53%), Germany (51%), Australia (50%), Switzerland (49%), USA (46%), Britain (45%), Canada (44%), Japan (38%), Mauritius (31%), South Africa (25%), Kenya (25%) and New Zealand (21%) are the top long-haul destinations preferred by millennials this summer season.
- About 37% millennials would like to take 5-7 nights long vacation followed by 32% Millennials who would opt for 3-5 nights packages.
- 40% millennials are open to spend anywhere between INR 2 lakhs to 5 lakhs for their holidays followed by 35% who would spend between INR 5 to 10 lakhs.
- Around 34% Millennials would like to book Luxury Hotels with limited inventory while 25% each would go for Boutique and Budget properties respectively
- 67% Millennials are keen to book Airlines that will offer good deals.
Things are looking up for 2021 as 52% millennials are keen to take an international holiday this summer season. With COVID-19 vaccination drives picking up steam across the world, bringing hope to millions that an end to the pandemic is on the horizon, 75% millennials would prefer to go to foreign destinations with fewer Covid cases, according to the report by BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker. While 71% millennials would opt for destinations with defined Covid protocols to avoid unnecessary hassles while planning their international holiday in the summers of 2021.
“The fact that more than 50% of the millennials in India are keen to undertake an international holiday this summer season is extremely encouraging news for the travel industry. The findings are motivating and will certainly generate more confidence in an industry which is currently extremely disappointed by being ignored in the Union Budget. However, inbound and outbound are two verticals of travel that go hand in hand and growth of one pushes the growth of the other sector too. I hope the government will look into opening up borders in India soon, & so will other countries’ said Jyoti Mayal, President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and Vice Chairperson, FAITH.
The BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker was done online with over 6000 millennial travellers across the country over a period of 30 days in January 2021 has revealed that 62% millennials would prefer Thailand, followed by Singapore (58%), UAE (52%), Maldives (46%) and Saudi Arabia (40%) in the short-haul category of foreign destinations.
Malaysia and Indonesia are chosen by 39% millennials each with Sri Lanka (36%), Bhutan (31%), Turkey (28%) and Seychelles (24%) coming close among the top short-haul foreign destinations preferred by the millennials for holiday this summer season.
In the long-haul category, the top-ranked international destinations includes France (53%), Germany (51%), Australia (50%), Switzerland (49%), USA (46%), Britain (45%), Canada (44%), Japan (38%), Mauritius (31%), South Africa (25%), Kenya (25%) and New Zealand (21%), which are preferred by millennials this summer season.
“The successfully ongoing vaccine drive coupled with dropping Covid cases in India has instilled confidence in the travellers, especially the millennials. The findings of the survey are a testament of this emotion. However, the road to complete recovery is long and tough but we are definitely seeing an uptick in trip-planning and requests right now for the holidays and into 2021, as well as far-flung international trips. Many of our members are planning trips for 2021 and 2022 because they know demand will be high in popular destinations eventually. The Indian government too should seriously consider opening up commercial flight movement from India under the new norms of travel,” said Riaz Munshi, President, Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI).
According to the survey, 40% millennials are open to spend anywhere between INR 2 lakhs to 5 lakhs for their holidays while 35% millennials would spend between INR 5 to 10 lakhs. Around 34% millennials would like to book luxury Hotels with limited inventory while 25% each would go for boutique and budget properties respectively
The survey also touched upon new travel trends like rise of solitary & Do-it-yourself travel and innovations like popularity of touch-less technology, voice-activated services and more automation in the hospitality sector. Travellers are still looking for places with fewer crowds.
