Tag Archives: Domestic Tourism

At the second edition of ITB India, Vishal Suri, Managing Director, SOTC Travel, delivered an insightful keynote on India’s rapidly evolving travel landscape. With India’s economy and demographic shifts setting the stage for unprecedented growth, Suri painted a vivid picture of how the country’s travel sector is poised for expansion, underpinned by strong domestic demand, a youthful population, and a growing middle class. Suri began by highlighting India’s economic ascent, positioning it as a global powerhouse. Currently, the country boasts a $3.95 trillion economy and is expected to become the third-largest economy by 2027 -28, growing at a steady rate of 8%. This robust growth is fueled by a diverse economic base, including IT, services, agriculture, and manufacturing. According to Suri, this economic diversity and stability create a fertile ground for travel and tourism to flourish. A major driver of this boom is India’s young, tech-savvy population. With 52% of India’s 1.4 billion people under the age of 50, and 27% under 30, Suri emphasised how this “Gen Alpha” is already contributing to the nation’s growing consumer market. These young consumers, being digital natives, are increasingly embracing technology to plan and book travel, shifting from a traditional “saver” mentality to a more “spending” and experience-driven mindset. Suri also touched on the significant shift in consumer behavior, especially post-pandemic. “Pre-pandemic, travel was more about escaping life; post-pandemic, it is about experiencing life,” he noted. This psychological shift has led to a surge in local, experiential travel, with people looking for more meaningful, culturally immersive experiences rather than merely ticking off destinations. The demand for authentic stays, such as Airbnbs and homestays, has increased, reflecting a deeper desire to connect with local …

Unfolds new products ahead of festivals & holiday season Riding on a high-growth trajectory, Kerala Tourism has unfolded a range of fresh products and packages to whip up new interest among travellers from both inside the country and outside in the upcoming festive and winter holiday seasons. Alongside the new projects, the state’s core assets like beaches, hill stations, houseboats and backwater segment will continue to have a mesmeric charm for the visitors. Kerala’s unique touristy appeal lies in providing a diverse range of experiences for tourists like houseboats, caravan stays, plantation visits, jungle lodges, homestays, Ayurveda-based wellness solutions, adventure activities, countryside walks, and trekking to verdant hills. Kerala’s resilience in putting its pandemic-hit tourism industry back on the rail is evident from an appreciable surge in domestic arrivals. In pre-COVID times, it was the year 2019 when the state registered the highest growth rate in domestic and total tourist arrivals in 24 years with their number pegged at 1,95,74,004, comprising 1,83,84,233 domestic tourists and 11,89,771 visitors from abroad. In 2023, it witnessed a record surge in the number of domestic tourists with as many as 21,871,641 people visiting the state. The number of international tourists was pegged at 6,49,057. As for the first quarter (January-March) of 2024, Kerala attracted 50,37,307 domestic tourists compared to 49,36,274 visitors in the corresponding period a year earlier, registering a 2.05 per cent increase, in a rousing endorsement of its touristy appeal. Equally assuring for Kerala is the uptick in international tourist arrivals, which are expected to reach the pre-COVID levels by 2025. Tourism Minister Shri PA Mohamed Riyas says the focus will no longer be confined to beaches, backwaters and hill stations. “We …

According to CRISIL Ratings, rising domestic tourism and increasing propensity to travel overseas will expand revenue of India’s tour and travel operators by a robust 15-17 per cent this fiscal. The growth in revenue will be on a high base of last fiscal, when revenue jumped ~40% year-on-year to about ₹14,500 crore, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak by ~20%.

Advocating for promoting domestic tourism during her maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha, Sudha Murty, philanthropist highlighted India’s cultural richness, noting that while the country boasts 42 World Heritage sites, an additional 57 are awaiting recognition. She emphasised the need for well-packaged tourism initiatives, with adequate infra.

According to a new WTTC report, India’s travel and tourism sector has recovered significantly with domestic tourism playing a pivotal role but international travel spend continues to remain below pre-Covid levels. Consulting firm McKinsey and Company had earlier projected that India will become the fourth-largest domestic travel market in terms of spending by 2030.

Advocating for promoting domestic tourism during her maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha, Sudha Murty, Philanthropist highlighted India’s cultural richness, noting that while the country boasts 42 World Heritage sites, an additional 57 are awaiting recognition. She emphasised the need for well-packaged tourism initiatives, with adequate infrastructure to attract more visitors and boost revenue within India.

Addressing the ‘Eco-Tourism Samvad,’ Yogi Adityanath, CM, Uttar Pradesh, said, “There is immense tourism potential in UP. Last year, the state witnessed the arrival of 48 crore tourists. UP offers a myriad of offerings such as spiritual tourism, heritage, and eco-tourism. An average of 1.5-2 lakh tourists alone visit Ayodhya daily.”

Tourism in Himachal Pradesh has seen a surge this year. By May 2024, the state recorded over 7.4 million tourists. This marks a rise of 3.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. Solan district has emerged as the destination with the highest tourist arrival surpassing Shimla. Kasauli and Chail are also gaining popularity.

Skyscanner Travel Insight data shows, that since the start of 2024, searches for domestic travel in India have increased by 19% year-over-year, whilst searches amongst Indian travellers for ‘Everywhere’ are up 122% YoY. The top domestic destinations for Indian travellers in 2024 include New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Goa, and Hyderabad.

As per Policybazaar.com, there has been a 3-4% increase in booking travel insurance policies for trips exceeding 45 days in April 2024. Manas Kapoor, Business Head of Travel Insurance, Policybazaar.com, said, “Coverage for loss of baggage, trip cancellation, adventure sports, and pre-existing illness are high in demand add-ons for travel insurance.”