Majority of Indians show keen interest to travel this year post unlock: Survey

A majority of people have shown keen interest to travel this year after easing of lockdown restrictions, with 69 per cent respondents keen to resume travel in 2021 and 31 per cent in 2022, according to a joint survey by travel service providers Thomas Cook India and SOTC.

The survey was conducted this month by the two companies and covered 4,000 customers across India's tier-I to III towns, including top-8 metro cities.

It also included mini-metros like Pune and key tier-II and III markets of Jaipur, Indore, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Nagpur, Surat, Baroda, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Mysore, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati and Patna.

Eighteen per cent of the respondents were ready to travel immediately after unlock and 51 per cent within 3-6 months, according to the survey report, titled 'Third Holiday Readiness Report'.

When it comes to destinations, there is demand for domestic and international, although domestic was higher at 54 per cent and international at 46 per cent.

In India, Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh, Himachal, Andamans, Goa and Kerala are among the most popular destinations, while Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Maldives, Mauritius, Thailand and Europe are the favourite global destinations, Thomas Cook India said in a regulatory filing.

Customers, however, continued to be concerned about physical and personal safety with 70 per cent of the respondents ranking health and safety as a key consideration, it added.

"Re-sanitation of rooms was selected by 52 per cent respondents as a key requirement, while fully vaccinated hotel staff, drivers was a need highlighted by 48 per cent and 34 per cent respondents, respectively," according to the report.

It also found that 66 per cent of respondents were willing to increase spends to ensure higher levels of health and safety on their holiday, and 62 per cent respondents preferred to travel with family/friends; 20 per cent as couples/solo and 18 per cent in a vaccinated group.

Thomas Cook India President and Country Head (Holidays and MICE) Visa Rajeev Kale said, "Indian consumers continue to display strong travel desire with a noteworthy 69 per cent keen to travel in 2021. Equally important are consumer concerns on health-safety (70 per cent), uncertainty (19 per cent) and need for refundable/zero cancellation products (81 per cent)."

MICE stands for meeting, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.

SOTC Travel President and Country Head (Leisure) Daniel D'souza given that uncertainty is a key concern the findings of the study are very encouraging with the strong pent up travel demand being revealed.

As far as duration of stay is concerned, the study found that 35 per respondents chose holidays between 3-5 days; 52 per cent for 6-12 days; 13 per cent for a holiday of over 12 days but the customers also wanted financial safety with 81 per cent respondents reiterated their need for refundable/zero cancellation products.