Latest data from YouGov Surveys shows that three-quarters of urban Indians are planning to travel this festive season (between September and December), with millennials leading the trend (at 80%).
Among those planning trips, 72% favor domestic travel. One in ten (9%) are leaning towards international destinations while 19% are considering both domestic and international options.
For domestic travel, Goa tops the list at 35%, followed by Kerala at 26% and Himachal Pradesh at 24%. Internationally, the Middle East is the most popular choice at 46%, followed by Europe (35%) and Southeast Asia (34%).
Half of those planning trips have identified potential destinations but have not yet booked (51%), while 32% have already made their arrangements. The remaining 17% are interested in traveling but have not started planning.
Shorter vacations are preferred during this period, with 47% planning to travel for a week and 34% opting for long weekends of up to 3 days. About a fifth (19%) are looking at vacations lasting up to two weeks or more.
When it comes to booking, MakeMyTrip is the top choice for booking flights and hotels, favored by almost half of urban Indians (50% and 48%, respectively). Booking.com follows as the second most popular platform for both flights (25%) and hotels (27%). While EaseMyTrip is the next most popular choice for booking flights, Goibibo is a more popular option for hotels.
Despite reliance on booking platforms, 55% of urban Indians prefer to make their own bookings. Thirty percent opt for bundled packages through online travel agencies, while 17% use traditional travel agents.
Long weekends are expected to significantly influence travel plans for the upcoming festive season, with 27% of urban Indians considering the extended holidays from September to December as an ideal travel window.
The festive atmosphere also plays a significant role in their decision to travel during this period (as said by 23%), as do the year-end events (20%). One in five also consider festive deals on flights and hotels a good reason to travel during this time (19%).