Looking forward with optimism

In its research, Booking.com reveals a sense of optimism among Indian travellers, fuelling a hunger to embrace the New Normal and get back to experiencing the world in the New Year. Going on a vacation will become a form of self-care in 2022.

Booking.com has forecast Indian travellers to make up for the last time due to COVID-19 outbreak in 2022. Now that infection cases are on the downhill, it conducted ‘Travel Seven Predictions 2022’ research, which revealed how people will be reigniting the travel spark in the upcoming year. The Booking.com has commissioned a detailed research with 24,000 travellers across 31 countries and territories, including India.

Travel to be part of self-care

Going on a vacation will become the form of self-care in the New Year, with more than 84 per cent of Indian travellers stating that travel helps them keep the balance between mental and emotional health. As per the research, 85 per cent of Indian travellers believe that having a vacation has had a positive impact on their emotional wellbeing and 69 per cent said they did not realize how important travel was.

Work-free vacation time

When the pandemic hit the globe, several homes became offices too. However, 2022 will see a rise in people controlling to re-establish a healthy worklife balance. Vacation time will be strictly work-free for 77 per cent of Indian travellers in 2022, which was not the case in 2021 with home and work lives blurred. With 76 per cent of Indian travellers claiming to have worked for more hours using less vacation days during the pandemic, we expect to see people setting their welldeserved out of (home) office messages in 2022.

Anticipation of the journey

After being ‘stuck’ for months together due to COVID-19, travellers will relish every moment of travel. The journeys undertaken in 2022 will be a moment to savor, with a majority of Indian travellers saying that feeling the sun on their skin (75 per cent) or seeing a water body improves their mood (84 per cent).

Time to branch out

For many, the pandemic meant spending time with our close friends and loved ones, but vacations in 2022 will be an opportunity to make new connections. As 81 per cent of Indian travellers want to meet new people when away, while we expect to see travellers using their vacations as an opportunity to expand their usual social circles, with 77 per cent of Indian travellers looking forward to meeting people on vacation.

Adopting technology

Uncertainty will continue to be a constant in travel in 2022, and while we cannot change or predict each and every new surprise and challenge what fate has in store for us, people will embrace it. Having leaned on technology in a variety of ways to stay connected and inspired over the past year, the favorite Apps will continue to help navigate the unknown on our trips, while 76 per cent of Indian travellers agree that technology helps alleviate the anxiety around traveling. Technology will continue to smoothen out unforeseen bumps in the road with increasing finesse and proactivity.

Meanwhile, Ritu Mehrotra, RM, South Asia, Booking.com said, “In 2022, it is our mission to make it easier for everyone to explore again, when the time is right. We will be there for travellers, offering the widest choice, great value and the easiest experience

85 per cent of Indian travellers say travel helps keep a balance between mental and emotional health

2022 will see a rise in people controlling to establish a healthy work-life balance. Vacation time will be strictly work-free

from anywhere and on any device, so people can reclaim their travel mojo and enjoy the unforgettable experiences this world has to offer, when it's safe to do so again.”