TravTalk - India

Stress-free travel for outbound

What do Indian outbound travellers expect from foreign destinatio­ns and holidays? Well, plenty! Indians travelling abroad seek personalis­ed, value-for-money experience­s and ease of travel more than anything else.

- Inputs by Inder Raj Ahluwalia

Indian travellers are seeking safe, value-for-money places and opportunit­ies. They’re now including adventure activities and experienci­ng local food and wines, microbrewe­ry tours, walking tours, and cultural shows. They’re also seeking apartment-style accommodat­ion, activities that are child-friendly, and a mix of luxury brands and budget shopping. Indian travellers have shifted gear in terms of what they want and have moved on from normal itinerarie­s to focused trips. Their list includes an easy visa regime, direct food, scenic locations and sightseein­g tours, drivingfri­endly environmen­ts, discounted shopping outlets, English-speaking countries, and soft to medium adventures.

Indian outbound travellers are highly evolved and seek tailored experience­s along with ease of travel and value for money. New-age travellers pursue bespoke and immersive experience­s. In South Africa, they seek local culture, art and history, and trying new things. Mirroring this shift, they are creating awareness about new destinatio­ns that pack in a lot of action into shorter time-spans.

One of the basic characteri­stics and attraction­s travellers expect from overseas destinatio­ns is for them to be different from their homes. Travellers seek to be wooed and wowed, and expect destinatio­ns to be safe, enriching and fun, providing a break from their normal life. They seek several leisure inputs such as nightlife, museums, shopping, adventure and thrill.

The Indian traveller has shape-shifted drasticall­y over the last two decades. Indians cite scenic beauty, affordabil­ity, and convenienc­e of proximity as the top factors when deciding on a destinatio­n. However, an emerging trend is to select a place based on its Instagram worthiness. Theme-based travel centred on yoga, marathons, etc., is on the rise.

Travellers are moving away from generic travel want safety, ease of commuting, ease of communicat­ion with English widely spoken, interestin­g food choices and enjoyable meals, and sightseein­g that includes national icons. They want an overall package that's value for money.

 ??  ?? Hub Head - MEISEA South African Tourism Neliswa Nkani
Hub Head - MEISEA South African Tourism Neliswa Nkani
 ??  ?? Managing Director Weldon Tours & Travels Guldeep Singh Sahni
Managing Director Weldon Tours & Travels Guldeep Singh Sahni
 ??  ?? Jyoti Mayal Hony. Secretary General TAAI
Jyoti Mayal Hony. Secretary General TAAI
 ??  ?? Amit Kishore Director & Co-founder Eastbound Group
Amit Kishore Director & Co-founder Eastbound Group
 ??  ?? Nagsri Prasad Sashidhar                                             Nagsri
Nagsri Prasad Sashidhar Nagsri
 ??  ?? Mahendra Vakharia President OTOAI
Mahendra Vakharia President OTOAI

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