New age travellers make impromptu trips, happy with budget stays: Report

Study revealed that travellers in the age group of 18 to 35 preferred taking many small trips as compared to known travel patterns of one long annual breaks

India’s new age frequent holidaymakers are in mid-30s, make impromptu trips and are happy to get by with budget stay, found a travel report that studied tourists behaviours in the first half of 2016.

At least two-third holidays in the first half of 2016 were taken by travellers in the age group of 18 to 35, stated the report complied by Makemytrip (HT Photo)

Makemytrip, which released the report on Friday, also compared the rise in frequency of leisure trips and holidays booked on the go between January and June with the same period last year.

“Travellers are increasingly becoming younger. Just like financial and career ambition, young people have travel ambitions. This has had a direct effect on the country’s travel landscape,” said Rajesh Magao, co-founder and chief executive officer (India), Makemytrip.

At least two-third holidays in the first half of 2016 were taken by travellers in the age group of 18 to 35, the report found. People from this age bracket preferred taking many small trips as compared to known travel patterns of one long annual breaks. At least 63% such travellers had taken more than four trips in H1 2016 versus 54% in H1 2015, the report stated. The report added that more than seven of 10 last minute hotel bookings were made by vacationers in the same age group. About three quarter budget hotels booked on the portal also belonged to the same age group, added the study.

Leisure trips booked on mobile more than doubled from 25% in first half of 2015 to 54% in the same period last year. Many of these trips were impromptu plans. The report said that 80% trips were booked less than a month before the travel date. Most of these trips were domestic holidays. About 70% hotel bookings within India were booked a week before stay. Even 65% foreign holidays predominantly at nearby destinations within Asia were booked four weeks ahead of the journey, the study added.