Skyscanner, a global metasearch engine for travel solutions, has published its “Travel Trends: redefining value through experience in 2024” report, offering an overview of the latest and upcoming trends influencing traveller behaviour. The report combines search data and responses from 18,000 people globally with a sample of 1,000 Indian respondents to provide a multifaceted perspective on the state of travel for Indian Travellers.
The report was officially released on October 31, 2023, making it a timely resource for travel enthusiasts and travel industry professionals looking to gain insights for the upcoming year.
The report uncovers the behavioural pattern of Indian travellers to find the reasons why they are gravitating toward specific destinations and travel experiences in 2024. The responses signal a shift from a sole emphasis on budget constraints to a strong desire for enriching and immersive travel experiences.
Notably, the report reveals that Indian travellers are significantly influenced by movies and TV shows, with 94% expressing a willingness to visit destinations they’ve seen on the big or small screen. Furthermore, nearly half (43%) of respondents consider the overall ‘vibe’ of a destination as a crucial factor in their travel decision-making for 2024.
Skyscanner identifies four key travel vibes shaping Indian travellers’ choices:
Set-Jetting: This trend takes the lead in India, as travellers aspire to immerse themselves in the iconic locations of their favourite shows, embracing the “Main Character Energy.” A per the report, the top destination for Indian travellers in 2024 is Manali, India, inspired by “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani,” followed by Ladakh, influenced by “3 Idiots.” London and Paris also rank high as dream destinations due to the reigning popularity of shows like “Emily in Paris” and “The Crown”.
Gig Tripping: The report showed that approximately 37% of Indian travellers would fly short distances to attend live concerts, and a significant 79% would consider attending overseas concerts in 2024.
Budget Bougie Foodies: You wouldn’t be surprised to know that 59% of Indian travellers are found to base their destination choices on restaurants. Osaka, Japan, famed as ‘the kitchen of Japan,’ tops Skyscanner’s list of global destinations for foodies on a budget in 2024.
Destination Zzzz: Sleep tourism has steadily gained popularity among Indian travellers. 85% of travellers have reported as being more mindful of sleep health than in previous years and around 66% reporting improved sleep quality during their holidays.
In addition to these travel vibes, Skyscanner identifies new traveller types emerging in 2024:
Analogue Adventurers: In the vivid realm of social media, Gen Z travellers are embracing old-school adventures, with 24% of Indian travellers aged 18 to 24 carrying Polaroid cameras on their holidays to capture memories the analogue way.
Celebration Vacationers: 81% of Indian travellers prefer group trips to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions, although planning these trips can be challenging but travellers seem to have found their way around it.
Luxe-for-Less Seekers: While price remains a crucial factor in decision making, 37% of Indian travellers plan to upgrade to business or first class flights in 2024, and 44% intend to purchase airport lounge access.
The report also indicates that 86% of Indian travellers plan to take the same number or more trips abroad in 2024 compared to 2023. Top trending destinations for Indian travellers in 2024 include Da Nang in Vietnam, Almaty in Kazakhstan, and Baku in Azerbaijan. For the best value destinations, Nice in France ranks first, followed by Geneva in Switzerland, Tokyo in Japan, and Manama in Bahrain.
Mohit Joshi, Skyscanner Travel Trends and Destination Expert, highlights the growing desire among Indian travellers to explore and invest in richer travel experiences. He emphasises that 63% of Indian travellers plan to spend more on travel in 2024 and mentions Skyscanner’s tools like the ‘Explore Everywhere’ feature to help travellers find affordable options.
This report serves as a valuable resource for travellers, industry professionals, and travel enthusiasts alike, giving them a heads-up about the latest trends that are predicted to dominate the industry and help them make informed choices for their upcoming travels.