Key Travel Trends Expected to Dominate This Festive Season

As the festive season approaches, India is witnessing a surge in travel aspirations. With celebrations like Ganesh Chaturthi already underway and major festivals such as Dusshera and Diwali on the horizon, leisure travel is on the rise. Despite expectations that the term "pent-up demand" would fade post-COVID, the appetite for travel remains strong in 2023, marking a shift from pent-up to new demand, which has become the new normal. Here are some key travel trends for the upcoming festive season based on recent insights from Cleartrip:

1. Experiential Travel Dominates: Travelers are increasingly seeking unique and memorable experiences, making experiential travel a top trend, especially after the subdued pandemic period.
2. Higher Flight Prices, Increased Bookings: The average domestic flight price for this holiday season in 2023 is approximately INR 6,000, a 6% increase from the previous year. Despite the price hike, ticket bookings are robust.
3. Shift in Domestic Destinations: Goa has replaced Jaisalmer as the top domestic travel destination in India for this holiday season, with Udaipur, Jaipur, Munnar, and Lucknow following closely. Interestingly, apart from Goa, none of these destinations were in the top five domestic destinations during the last holiday season.
4. Top International Destinations: Pattaya has claimed the top spot for international travel this holiday season, followed by Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, and Hanoi. In the previous year, Singapore was the top choice. Hanoi, known for its rich cultural heritage in Vietnam, has entered the top five destinations for Indian travelers.
5. Preference for Short-Haul International Travel: Short-haul international destinations remain popular among Indian travelers. However, solo female travelers have London and Toronto among their top five international destinations, while Dubai held the top spot for solo female travelers last year.
6. Shorter Booking Windows for Hotels: There is a noticeable trend of shorter advance booking windows for both domestic and international hotel bookings, with a 10-15% reduction compared to the last holiday season. However, flight booking windows remain unchanged.
7. Extended Holiday Durations: Domestic hotel bookings show an increase in holiday durations by 30% compared to the same period last year, highlighting the paramount importance of travel among Indian travelers.

Also Read: 9 Must-Visit Destinations for Spectacular Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations in India

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