Sharp surge in Indians travelling abroad, UAE and Thailand remain top destinations

The report also stated that international travel search volumes remain relatively steady across all seasons, with December being the most active month for international travel searches.

Further, interest in luxury travel is rising among Indians, with a 10% growth in searches for business-class flights in the international segment. Indians are also on the lookout for pocket-friendly experiences as close to 50% of international hotel bookings fall in the above Rs 7,000 per night tariff bracket.

Fifty-five per cent of all trips to international destinations are for leisure, followed by 33% for visiting friends and relatives. Thailand is the favourite leisure destination for Indians. An impressive 44% of international travellers from West Bengal chose Thailand as their overseas destination. The UAE, Europe, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam are the other top leisure destinations for Indian travellers.

“With rising disposable incomes, greater exposure to global cultures, and the increasing ease of travel, more Indians are exploring both domestic and international destinations for leisure as well as business,” said Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip.