European destinations gaining popularity among citizens
| Date :21-May-2024 |
By Vaishnavi Pillay
Travel has long been considered a transformative experience, a way to gain exposure to different cultures and landscapes. Be it domestic tours or international ones, a distinct shift has been observed in travel preferences among families, youth, and senior citizens in recent years. People are now taking time out of their busy lives to travel, and are increasingly seeking experiential tours and services that cater to their interests. Social media is also playing a huge role in influencing travel decisions, discovering new destinations, informing about a place’s food and culture, and about activities to add to their itinerary. Nagpur’s tours and travel company owners and representatives spoke to ‘The Hitavada’ and shared a common statement that Europe is leading in international trips followed by South Africa, and Baku in Azerbaijan has witnessed a sudden attraction in recent months. Summer brings a surge in domestic travel to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. Prachi Shah, owner of a tours and travel company, says that destinations like Vietnam, Singapore, Dubai, and Malaysia are also witnessing a rise in bookings, and people are even asking for cruise vacations around Mumbai and Goa. “The importance of tourism has risen particularly after the pandemic. Earlier, sightseeing was the main focus but now travellers are opting for locations to relax and enjoy the amenities of the property they are staying in,” shared Shah.
Shah says senior citizen travel is booming year-round, they are avidly exploring, which include religious tours and forming senior citizens’ groups to embark on international destinations as well. Varun Sarda, Founder of a travel company, observes a change in consumer behaviour. He says, “Although people here have a negotiating mindset, many are now willing to spend more for a quality experience. Even the number of holidays people take per year has increased.” Sarda adds that people are showing interest in activities like specialised scuba diving and skydiving, also taking training beforehand, and making efforts to engage and understand the local culture of a place. Focusing on the diversity of travel preferences, Sarda says, “Some travellers seek relaxation and enjoy just a single destination, while some cover multiple European countries in a 14-day trip with just two nights per country. People opt for such extensive tours because they want maximum experience in a short period.”
Ravi Agrawal, Secretary of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Nagpur Chapter, exclaims, “The market is fantastic. People are eager to explore. Along with Europe and Baku, Japan has gained traction and bookings recently. Even Dubai remains popular despite the heat. Domestically, the Andaman Islands, Darjeeling, and Himachal Pradesh have been top choices this season.” Asking them if there was any impact on bookings after the recent Maldives boycott, they offered a mixed response. Varun Sarda says that he saw a significant drop compared to the previously high volume he was experiencing. In contrast, Prachi Shah and Ravi Agrawal observed no significant impact as far as their clientele is concerned. “Alternative beach destinations are emerging, but Maldives’ reputation for quality experience and unique activities continues to attract travellers,” expressed Shah. Agrawal identifies a lack of regulation in the travel and tourism sector’s licensing system as a major challenge, which he says creates a space for fake ticket bookings and fraudulent companies. The resulting confusion leads to distrust and delays in booking process.