Key Highlights
- 71% millennials are willing to explore and travel within India in the next six months due to various international travel restrictions.
- About 42% millennials consider lack of proper information on Covid restrictions as a major challenge while planning a holiday within India while 38% feel there is not enough credible information on unique travel destinations.
- Around 22% millennials would like to go to beach destinations while 21% of them would prefer wildlife parks and sanctuaries. 20% each would like to go to plush hotels & resorts and hills/ adventure destinations. A mere 10% would like to visit historical destinations and 7% would opt for religious places.
- 40% millennials feel that Covid policies of respective states would play a major role in selecting holiday destinations followed by 22% who would go for attractive hotels and resorts packages. About 21% of them opined that their decisions would be based upon seeing tourism campaigns of respective States & UTs.
- A good 45% millennials would go for 1 to 3 night trips followed by 32% who would prefer a day trip. About 15% of them will opt for 3-5 nights tours.
- 41% millennials would like to spend somewhere between INR 1 lakh to 2 lakh on their holidays, followed by 30% of them who have a budget of INR 50K to 1 lakh.
- Around 38% millennials will opt for Luxury properties with limited inventory followed by 27% and 23% who would go for Boutique properties and budget hotels respectively.
- About 47% millennials will prefer Airlines that are offering good deals followed by 32% of them who would go for Airlines that are Covid safe/prepared.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to severely impact the travel and tourism sector in India, millennials may become the key driver of its revival with 71% millennials willing to explore ‘Incredible India’ in the next 6 months, according to BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker released on the eve of World Tourism Day.
Contrary to perceptions, millennials are very much interested in exploring ‘Incredible India’ more than ever provided they are given hassle-free seamless travel experiences. About 42% millennials consider lack of proper information on Covid restrictions a major challenge while planning a holiday within India while 38% feel there is not enough credible travel information on unique destinations.
Pronab Sarkar, President, IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators), says, “Millennials today form a very important chunk of the travellers. The fact that 71% of them are keen on exploring India in the coming months is an extremely positive sign for the growth of domestic tourism in our country. States must come forward and try to come out with policies and campaigns to attract this segment of travellers.”
The survey conducted over a period of 3 weeks in September where 6000+ millennials participated shows that they are much more likely to go on trips and holidays if they are actively offered tailor-made, hassle-free seamless travel experiences with proper communication.
About 40% millennials feel that Cover policies of respective states would play a major role in selecting holiday destinations followed by 22% who would go for attractive hotels and resorts packages. About 21% of them opined that their decisions would be based upon seeing tourism campaigns of respective States & UTs.
Interestingly, 41% millennials would like to spend somewhere between INR 1 lakh to 2 lakh on their holidays, followed by 30% of them who have a budget of INR 50K to 1 lakh and 17% who have more than 2 lakh to spend on their vacations. To add to this, millennials seem to have a wide range of destinations where they would want to holiday. Like Around 22% millennials would like to go to beach destinations while 21% of them would prefer wildlife parks and sanctuaries. 20% each would like to go to plush hotels & resorts and hills/ adventure destinations. A mere 10% would like to visit historical destinations and 7% would opt for religious places.
Concurs Subhash Goyal, Chairman ASSOCHAM Tourism Council & Hony. Secretary, FAITH, “I agree that domestic and regional tours will be the only tours taking place in the next few months. We have to look at the bigger picture and promote domestic tourism on numerous levels. But to push domestic tourism, MoT has to go beyond the Dekho Apna Desh campaign. They need to implement a uniform policy across all states with regards to COVID guidelines and no quarantine restrictions should be there. Students in schools and colleges must be encouraged to travel within India and explore and write about their cultural findings. Additionally, all hotels and MICE venues in the country should be allowed to host events with the new guidelines of safety and social distancing protocols.”
Adds Sarkar, “It is high time that the Government should release some kind of relief package for the travel and tourism sector. This World Tourism Day, financial aid will be the best gift the government can give to the people suffering in the tourism sector.”
As per the findings of the BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker, a good 45% millennials would go for 1 to 3 nights trip followed by 32% who would prefer a day trip. About 15% of them will opt for 3-5 nights tour. Additionally, around 38% millennials will opt for Luxury properties with limited inventory followed by 27% and 23% who would go for Boutique properties and budget hotels respectively.
