Key Highlights
- A mere 36% people would like to go on a Family Holiday this year while 43% have no plans to holiday this year due to the fear of Covid-19 pandemic.
- About 44% people will prefer a holiday during the New Year break followed by 33% who would prefer holiday in the months of November-December.
- Around 39% of the people would like to go on a Weekend Getaway while 35% people would prefer 3-5 Nights Stay and 18% would like to go on a Day-Trip.
- About 32% of the people would like to go on a holiday using a Private / Self Transport followed by 28% and 25% people who would prefer taxis and flights respectively.
- 41% of the people would like to spend somewhere between INR 50K to 1 lakh on their holiday, followed by 30% people who have a budget of INR 1 to 2 lakhs.
- Around 24% people would prefer plush Hotels and Resorts followed by 19% each who prefer Religious Destinations and Hills & Adventurous destinations for their holidays. 18% people would head to Beach Destinations.
- A huge 75% people will opt for Hotels & Resorts which are Covid safe/prepared followed by 15% who would go for Hotels & Resorts offering good deals.
- About 62% people will prefer Airlines that are Covid safe/prepared followed by 32% people who would go for Airlines offering good deals.
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to severely impact the travel and tourism sector with just 36% people willing to take a family holiday this year while about 43% have decided to skip holidaying this year due to the fear of the pandemic. A recently concluded survey by BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker to understand the travel sentiments, has revealed that 44% people would prefer to holiday during the New Year break followed by 33% who would like to holiday in the months of November-December.
According to the BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker survey, where over 5000 verified travellers participated over a period of 28-days, 39% of the people would like to go on a weekend Getaway while 18% would like to go on a day-trip.
Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India says, “Despite such enormous effect of the pandemic, it is good to know that there is demand and inclination to go on a family holiday. The ministry has also taken several other steps to shore up the beleaguered travel industry. It has created a set of guidelines for travellers, monuments, guides, hotels and restaurants, tour operators and other stakeholders. The Ministry of Tourism is working towards opening tourist spots across the country, implementing confidence-building measures and supporting the industry. As a part of this thought, we started a series of webinars, exploring different facets of India. We need to join hands and create a synergy that will propel people to explore the treasures of their own country first, thus giving a boost to domestic tourism in India.”
As per the survey, about 32% of the people would like to go on a holiday using a private or self-owned transport followed by 28% and 25% people who would prefer taxis and flights respectively. Around 41% of the people would like to spend somewhere between INR 50K to 1 lakh on their holiday, followed by 30% people who have a budget of INR 1 to 2 lakhs.
Rajiv Mehra, Vice President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) says, “Even if people want to travel, the bigger question is where will they travel? With the states changing rules on a weekly basis, the choice for a traveller becomes tough – he is simply being harassed by all the new policies and decisions taken at the state level. There is a dire need for the Centre government to intervene and lay down some rules for everyone to follow. As we enter Unlock 3.0, there should be coordinated efforts to revive tourism with all the precautions in place.”
Interestingly, 24% people would prefer plush hotels and resorts for their holidays followed by 19% each who prefer religious destinations and hills & adventurous destinations for their holidays. 18% people would head to beach destinations while 13% would opt for wildlife parks & sanctuaries and 7% for popular historical destinations.
P.P. Khanna, President, ADTOI (Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India) says, “It is time to realise, showcase and position India, which has immense tourist attractions for our domestic travellers. States across the country should come forward and highlight their tourist attractions along with the Covid-safe measures taken by them. The Centre and state governments should work towards systematic tourism promotion campaigns. The pandemic has only altered the progress of tourism, not stopped it. This has the potential to become the biggest job creator for India.”
Here are the Key Findings of the Tracker
- A mere 36% people would like to go on a Family Holiday this year while 43% have no plans to holiday this year due to the fear of Covid-19 pandemic.
2. About 44% people will prefer to holiday during the New Year break followed by 33% who would prefer to holiday in the months of November-December. 17% people would like to holiday in October – November and a very minuscule percentage of 6% people may travel in August and September.
3. Around 39% of the people would like to go on a Weekend Getaway while 35% people would prefer 3-5 Nights Stay followed by 18% would like to go on a DayTrip.
4. About 32% of the people would like to go on a holiday using a Private / Self Transport followed by 28% and 25% people who would prefer taxis and flights respectively. About 15% of people would prefer train for their holidays.
5. About 41% of the people would like to spend somewhere between INR 50K to 1 lakh on their holiday this year, followed by 30% people who have a budget of INR 1 to 2 lakhs. Around 17% of the people would spend less than INR 50K while about 12% people shall spend more than INR 2 lakhs.
6. Interestingly, 24% people would prefer plush hotels and resorts for their holidays followed by 19% each who prefer religious destinations and hills & adventurous destinations for their holidays. 18% people would head to beach destinations while 13% would opt for wildlife parks & sanctuaries and 7% for popular historical destinations.
7. A huge 75% people will opt for Hotels & Resorts which are Covid safe/prepared followed by 15% who would go for Hotels & Resorts offering good deals. 10% people would go for their usual preferences and brands.
8. About 62% people will prefer Airlines that are Covid safe/p
repared followed by 32% people who would go for Airlines offering good deals. Just 6% of the people would opt for their usual preferences.
Why BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker?
The Covid-19 has cast a gloomy spell on the world that has stretched beyond geographical boundaries. The first half of 2020 would be remembered as one unique period where the spring colours were not enjoyed, the school exams and results per decided on partial performance, blanket ban on travel visas, the airplanes remained grounded and birds had the sky to themselves and an era where mankind came to a standstill – locked and confined in home with only talks of future to keep them motivated. One of the worst hit industries across the world has been travel and tourism. It’s also one of the largest industries in the world, with $5.7 trillion in revenue. It is responsible for an estimated 319 million jobs, or roughly one in 10 people working on the planet. Similarly, the Indian travel industry has already taken a huge hit due to travel restrictions and canceled trips for both business and pleasure with India being under national lockdown since March 24th, 2020. Amidst this ambiguity and uncertainty, BOTT decided to take an innovative approach to gauze the sentiments of people with respect to travel and tourism initiating the first-ever, pan-India, Travel Sentiment Tracker in the country. The core objective behind BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker is to showcase a genuine picture of what is the ground reality in Indian Travel & Tourism sector.
