Two-thirds of Indian travellers willing to cut daily expenses for the sake of travel in 2023

2023 will be a big year for Indian travellers. The search data analysis by Kayak, the world’s leading travel search engine headquartered in the US, reveals that flight searches from airports in India (between April - November 2022) have increased by about 204 per cent compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. For International flights, searches have increased by about 168 per cent and domestic flight searches have increased by about 257 per cent.

“Our data shows that Indian travellers are highly curious about enriching their travel memories, and this is reflected by a 204 per cent increase in flight searches for next year,” said Elia San Martin, VP & GM of APAC, Kayak. “They are embracing the opportunity to travel the world again, while consciously searching for great deals and sustainable travel choices,” she said.

“Indian travellers are looking to not only spend more on holidays but are wholeheartedly embracing adventurous excursions, whether it is trying local cuisines, being immersed in new cultures, or exploring lesser-known locations,” said Martin, terming Indians as curious travellers, based on the survey results. According to the Kayak survey, two-thirds (64 per cent) of Indian travellers are willing to cut back on day-to-day expenses to allow them This research conducted by YouGov surveyed over
1,900 Indian travellers and found that travel restrictions resulting from the pandemic have contributed to the current surge in travel appetite, with three-quarters (78 per cent) of respondents being excited to go back travelling in 2023.

Sixty-two per cent respondents mentioned exploring the world as the main reason for the regained travel desire. The other reasons being, living their dreams (61 per cent), seeking thrills (55 per cent), finding themselves (48 per cent) and escaping their worries (43 per cent). According to the study, 60 per cent of those surveyed consider themselvescurious travellers. Curiosity also makes for more enriching experiences, it said. Seventy-five per cent of respondents said they quenched their curiosity by usually exploring new and offbeat destinations; 73 per cent mentioned thatthey discovered new food experiences when travelling, and 70 per cent said they met new people and made friends from different cultures during previous trips.

With regards to spending, while almost half (49 per cent) of those surveyed said they plan to spend more money or the same for their travels than prepandemic, value for money, it turns out,
supersedes all other factors. Over 60 per cent of the surveyed Indian travellers counted value for money as their top consideration for booking flights and hotels and 80 per cent said they were
looking to spend INR 4 lakhs or less for travel in the year 2023. This is followed by hygiene and flexibility in booking considerations. Interestingly, despite value for money being their number one consideration for their 2023 holidays, Indian travellers do not appear to be deterred by higher flight prices in 2023, which, compared to 2019, have increased by about 23 per cent for international flights and by about 66 per cent for domestic flights, reveals Kayak study. The average cost of a return economy domestic flight for 2023 is about INR 13,783, and about INR 85,631 for a returninternational
economy flight.

With the world pushing for sustainable practices for a greener planet, sustainability considerations emerged equally important for Indian travellers' holiday plans. According to Kayak, 43 per cent of respondents stated that sustainability will be one of the main criteria for their summer holiday in 2023.

Forty per cent of respondents shared that they plan to travel to destinations known for their sustainability. Inspired to plan trips that have a minimal impact on the planet and its resources, 48 per cent of Indian travellers surveyed said they will book eco-friendly accommodations while 44 per cent said they would opt for more sustainable modes of transportation. “We believe in the power of travel and want our users to experience the world through travel, in a more sustainable and cost-effective way. Our unique travel planning tools can help travellers make fact-based decisions. For example, one tool we offer is the ‘Least CO2’-sorter, providing insights on a flight’s CO2 emission and helping to compare cost and travel times easily,” stated Martin.

The popularity of social media appears to be growing by the day. With travel topping the 2023 to-do lists for a majority of Indian travellers surveyed, 77 per cent have noticed more people posting their holiday pictures on social media in the past 12 months. Interestingly, ‘me time’ is becoming a consideration for Indian travellers, found the survey, with 38 per cent saying they prefer to travel alone rather than in a group in 2023. Greater control, freedom, and flexibility in planning holiday itineraries could be major factors that drive solo trips, it revealed.

So what does 2023 hold for Indian travellers? With more Indians searching for flights this year than pre-pandemic, international travel is back on the cards for many in 2023. Dubai remains the most searched outbound destination for travel in 2023, while Bangkok, Bali and Maldives also feature high on the list. Goa was the most searched domestic destination, followed by Andaman & Nicobar Islands and New Delhi.

This was also reflected in a considerable increase in hotel searches. It was found that international hotel searches by Indian travellers have increased by about 82 per cent compared to 2019, with domestic hotel searches increasing by about 54 per cent.