Personal wellness top priority for Indians making travel plans: Survey
HYDERABAD: A recent survey, done by American Express Travel on travel patterns and interests shows that 90 percent of the Indians surveyed, focused on personal wellness as a priority to make their travel plans. The same survey also shows that 87 percent plan to spend more money on luxury experiences rather than spending on conventional luxury goods.
According to American Express CEO, Sanjay Khanna, Indians are planning to travel for gaining new experiences, learning about new cities and their culture, breaking away from monotony and trying new food or cuisines.
“With the ongoing demand for travelling, we are backing our Cardmembers with compelling offers and benefits, helping them get better value for their trips and creating joyful memories,” he added.
Pop-culture and social media influencing the rise of “set-jetting”
The survey showed that Instagram (63 percent ), Facebook (63 percent), online blogs (49percent) and TV shows (49 percent) are the top travel inspirations for Indians.
While 48 percent Indian respondents agreed that they have been inspired to travel this year by a recent TV show/movie, with Game of Thrones and Emily in Paris topping the list, 95 percent GenZers agree that they are inspired to visit specific travel destinations after seeing them featured on TV shows, news sources or movies.
Culinary delights driving the travel preferences of Indians
Highest amongst all the surveyed countries, 86 percent respondents in India shared that they typically book travel destinations based on popular restaurants located there. Participating in the local restaurant scene and food festivals are top experiences they are looking forward to during their upcoming travels.
When it comes to food inspiration, more than 98 percent agreed that they were open to venturing out of their comfort zone and trying new foods while traveling.
Supporting local communities and the environment
97 percent are interested in going on a vacation that supports local communities and 94 percent of say that they are now more mindful of the environmental impact of their travel decisions compared to a year ago.
Exploring lesser-known destinations
98 percent want to travel to a place they have never been before as Indians are seeking hidden gems with 94 percent agreeing that they wanted to explore lesser-known destinations and 95 percent agreeing that they wanted to travel to a destination that is off –the-beaten path.
