Tag Archives: Santosh Kumar

Booking.com released the 10th edition of its annual Sustainable Travel Report that explores consumer attitudes and intentions with regards to the social and ecological impact of travel. The report reveals how Indian travellers are leveraging their travel choices to empower local communities and support sustainable tourism. Highlights: 59% of Indian travellers are now conscious of travel’s impact on communities as well as the environment and 63% want to leave places better than when they arrived. This year, travelling more sustainably remains important for most Indian travellers (96%) and a remarkable 99% say they want to make more sustainable travel choices 74% of Indian travellers feel that tourism has a positive impact overall on the place where they live. This year the report explores not just how the travellers feel but how, as residents they perceive the impact of tourism on their communities With insights from 32,000 travellers in 34 countries, including India and amid growing discussion of the impact of tourism on destinations, the research shows a shift in traveller perceptions of what sustainability encompasses. For the first time, more than half of Indian travellers (59%) are now conscious of travel’s impact on communities as well as the environment and 63% now want to leave places better than when they arrived. The research takes a community-centric lens this year. Asking respondents not just how they travel but how they also experience inbound visitors where they live, this approach sheds light on the benefits and challenges of tourism from their perspective as both travellers and locals. The report reveals that while 74% of Indian travellers feel that tourism has a positive impact overall on the place where they live, adjustments are …

According to Santosh Kumar, Country Manager, Booking.com, there has been a shift how seniors travel. In 2025, Indian Baby Boomers are leading the way, with 37% choosing to invest in bucket-list trips rather than leaving inheritances. This generational shift is driving increased demand for travel experiences among older adults.

Artificial Intelligence is making itineraries smarter and deeply personal. Users are using AI tools to ensure that travel is as enriching for them as it is for the environment. Santosh Kumar, Country Manager- India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia, Booking.com, notes, “Technology will push travellers and the industry to rethink how we engage with the world.”

Santosh Kumar, Country Manager, India, Booking.com, said, “Indian travellers are increasingly seeking unique experiences while travelling. One such experience is shopping, which is more than just an activity, but a gateway to the destination’s heritage and culture enabling travellers to make authentic connections with the places they visit and bring those memories back home. According to the company’s Travel Trends data for 2024, 43 per cent of Indian travellers stated that shopping had an impact on their destination decisions.”

India’s low-cost airline GoAir has introduced two new flights from Patna to New Delhi and Bengaluru. The airline discontinued its Patna-Kolkata service and introduced these routes. According to Santosh Kumar, Assistant General Manager – Air Traffic Management, Patna airport, “The proposal submitted to director general of civil aviation (DGCA) was for additional eight flights. However, a few operators later withdrew their proposals.” With the introduction of the new routes, the Patna airport now operates 42 flights daily.