In a bid to support India’s bus transport sector, leading online bus ticketing platform redBus has introduced ‘India BusTrack‘, an innovative quarterly report which offers a comprehensive analysis of the Indian intercity bus industry. The inaugural report launched at a press event in Delhi presented key insights from November and December 2023.
Among the key insights, it was revealed that 67 per cent of online bus ticket bookings in India come from non-metro regions while expressway development across the country can result in up to 200 per cent growth in bus seat bookings.
redBus, on the occasion said that the initiative aims to fill the existing void in the sector by providing a data-driven overview accessible to all stakeholders, including private bus operators, state-owned bus operators, government entities, and the general public.
India BusTrack promises to revolutionise decision-making processes within the bus transport ecosystem. The inaugural report delves into critical parameters, including demand, supply, geographic distribution, travel patterns, gender ratios, and more. The report ensures stakeholders remain informed about industry dynamics and trends by offering quarterly updates. Notably, while the majority of data reflects the broader bus market, specific insights from redBus’ online platforms are also incorporated, the company shared in its statement.
At the launch event, Prakash Sangam, CEO, redBus, expressed enthusiasm about the launch, highlighting the report’s potential to drive transformative change within the sector. He emphasised the significance of transitioning from fragmented data to comprehensive analytics, enabling informed decision-making and fostering collaboration across the industry.
“Our aim is to provide invaluable insights that empower bus operators, transport bodies, and enthusiasts alike. With BusTrack, we aspire to bridge the gap between fragmented data and informed decision-making, transitioning from rudimentary estimations to comprehensive analytics. This quarterly data report signifies our commitment to revolutionising the bus transport industry, offering precise figures and trends previously unavailable. We envision India BusTrack as a catalyst for progress, fostering collaboration and efficiency across the sector,” he said.
Additionally, MakeMyTrip will collaborate closely with the tourism department to spotlight pilgrimage sites and wildlife-centric travel experiences, amplifying their visibility through its platform. redBus, on the other hand, will be designated as the official “Online Bus Ticketing Partner” by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, facilitating seamless travel exploration across the state.
Key Insights from the First Edition of India BusTrack Market Size and Activity: The period saw a gross ticketing value of INR 36.37 billion, with 4468 active private bus operators and 36.06 million passengers travelling.
Network and Reach: India boasts 3,63,918 unique bus routes, connecting 8,530 towns across the nation, rivaling the reach of railways.
Passenger Preferences: AC buses were favoured by 62 per cent of passengers, while 50 per cent opted for sleeper buses, and 33 per cent chose hybrid options.
Travel Patterns: Fridays emerged as the busiest travel day, with Thursdays witnessing higher footfall than Saturdays or Sundays. Tuesdays saw the least travel activity.
Occupancy Rates: Maharashtra & Goa recorded the highest bus occupancy at 82 per cent, while Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh reported the lowest at 67 per cent.
Demographic Trends: Young travellers dominated bookings, with 29 per cent aged 18-25 and 39 per cent aged 26-36. Notably, 33 per cent of passengers were female, and 52 per cent traveled solo.
Booking Patterns: Metro cities accounted for 33 per cent of bus bookings, indicating the growing importance of tier-II and tier-III cities.
Expressway Development Impact: Infrastructure improvements, such as the Samruddhi Expressway, led to a significant reduction in travel time, a surge in seat bookings, and lower costs.
On ETTravelWorld’s query on including On Time Performance of buses, Sangam said the redBus team is working to include the same in the coming reports. He mentioned that more than 90 per cent of bus operators working with redBus use their GPS tracking service, which will help the company compile the on time performance data.
Responding to questions on EV buses and solo women travellers, the redBus CEO said that EV buses currently comprise a very small share of the intercity bus segment, with only 400 bus services plying on redBus. On solo women travellers, redBus team said that there has been a 35 per cent growth in number of solo women travellers using intercity bus service.
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OYO, the global hospitality technology company, has embarked on a new journey by launching its dedicated sports hospitality business aimed at revolutionising the management of large-scale sports events. With a focus on providing end-to-end solutions, OYO’s sports hospitality venture aims to seamlessly integrate accommodation, catering, and transportation services, redefining the way sports events are organized.
In a strategic move, OYO has identified 100 hotels across 12 key cities, including Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Chandigarh, among others, to cater to the unique needs of athletes and sports officials participating in various sports events. These cities, equipped with the necessary infrastructure, are poised to host large sports tournaments effectively.
With an emphasis on offering a comprehensive hospitality experience, OYO will provide a diverse range of accommodation options, catering to various budget preferences, and ensuring the comfort and convenience of participants and attendees. Specialised packages and group booking options will be available to accommodate the specific requirements of sports teams and large groups.
Furthermore, OYO will collaborate with third-party agencies for catering and transportation services, offering a wide array of food options and efficient travel solutions tailored to the preferences and dietary requirements of athletes and attendees. From nutritious pre-event meals to catering packages for VIP lounges, OYO aims to elevate the overall dining experience during sports events.
To streamline the movement of participants and spectators, OYO’s transportation solutions will include shuttle services, private transfers, and meticulous coordination of transportation schedules, ensuring smooth logistics between venues, hotels, and other event locations.
OYO’s venture into sports hospitality comes on the heels of its successful management of more than ten large-scale sports tournaments in 2023, including prestigious events such as Khelo India Youth Games, National Games, and ESIC Sports Meet. With a track record of catering to over 40,000 athletes and sports officials, OYO’s expertise in event management positions it as a trusted partner for sports associations nationwide.
Commenting on the development, Pankaj Kumar, Head of Government and Sports Hospitality Business, OYO, talked about company’s commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions. He stated, “The launch of our sports event management unit aligns with OYO’s commitment to continuous innovation and customer-centric solutions. With a focus on delivering quality hospitality, OYO plans to offer athletes a conducive and comfortable environment, ensuring they can fully concentrate on their training and competitions.”
In addition to catering to mainstream sports events, OYO’s inclusive approach extends to differently-abled sportspersons, with partnerships established for events such as Khelo India Para Games and Sardar Patel National Divyang Cricket Tournament, offering round-the-clock assistance to all participants.
The introduction of the Sydney Meetings Fund by Business Events Sydney underscores BESydney’s commitment to supporting event planners and promoting Sydney as a premier destination for corporate and incentive events. With funding opportunities now available, event planners in India have access to financial support to enhance their event experiences in Sydney.
In a separate development, OYO has announced its partnership with the International Theatre Festival of India (Bharat Rang Mahotsav) as its accommodation partner. As part of the partnership, OYO has engaged over 40 hotels in various categories to cater to their requirements.
OYO will provide accommodation to more than 2000 participants, artists, and attendees with seamless
and comfortable lodging options across various cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Vijaywada, Jodhpur,
Bhuj, Jammu and Bhuvneshwar hosting the festival.
The International Theatre Festival of India organised by National School of Drama is renowned for its
celebration of creativity, diversity, and innovation in the performing arts. Drawing renowned actors,
directors, playwrights, and theater enthusiasts from around the globe.
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A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Samagra Shiksha Uttarakhand and Swiss Education Group, Switzerland at the Secretariat on Thursday in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami with the objective to provide better training in the field of tourism and hospitality.
State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Banshidhar Tiwari and Executive Director of Swiss Education Group Hiraj Artinian signed the MoU to provide training in the field of tourism and hospitality to the students of classes 9th to 12th in Uttarakhand. Swiss Education Group will also assist in improving the vocational education curriculum for students in the state.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “This agreement will prove to be a milestone in the future for better training in the field of tourism and hospitality under vocational education to the children of class 9 to 12 in the state.”
He said that there is a lot of employment potential in both these sectors in Uttarakhand.
“By gaining proficiency through training in these areas, our students will get many employment opportunities. Continuous efforts are being made by the state government to promote tourism. Many works are being done to promote religious, spiritual and adventure tourism as well as eco-tourism and wellness,” CM Dhami said.
CM Dhami further added that the state was also receiving many proposals in the field of hospitality. “There are many possibilities in this sector in the state in the coming times,” he said.
While domestic tourist arrivals have reached about 8,816,153, and foreign tourist arrivals stand at 278,155, Punjab Tourism is preparing to join the tourism race. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, Principal Secretary of Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab talks about the response of 1st Tourism Summit and Travel Mart, the series of proposed policies, targeted segments and a lot more.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed gratitude to Abhay Das Maharaj for playing an important role in this agreement with Switzerland in the field of tourism and hospitality in the state. About 4 months ago, there was a discussion between the Chief Minister and Abhay Das Maharaj to provide support to the state in these areas.The Chief Minister said that lakhs of devotees come to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand during the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand.
“The effort of the state government is to ensure that devotees and tourists come to the religious and tourist places of Uttarakhand in large numbers within 12 months. For this, work is being done at a rapid pace on the Manaskhand Temple Mala Mission. Under this, work has been started by identifying 16 temples in the first phase,” he added.
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Travel assistance service provider India Assist has partnered with Moto GP Bharat to provide personalised assistance to spectators attending the Moto GP race, which is starting from Friday Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. As part of the partnership, India Assist team members will have a physical presence at the venue to help spectators and provide support and assistance.
The company has been appointed as the official assistant partner for the much-anticipated Moto GP Bharat 2023. Making the announcement about the exclusive partnership, the company’s senior leadership shared more details during press interactions.
In an interview with ETTravelWorld, Harish Khatri, Founder & MD, India Assist shared details on their partnership with Moto GP Bharat, highlighting the event’s potential to connect fans and establish the country as a multisport nation. He also discussed the potential of personalised assistance in the travel industry, highlighting the importance of catering to different types of travellers and the challenges of implementing such a system.
India Assist’s innovative mobile application provides a wide array of solutions to address the diverse challenges that travellers may encounter, ranging from issues like luggage theft and loss to sudden medical emergencies, unexpected conflicts, and various unforeseen circumstances.
Khatri said this level of customised assistance is intended to improve the experience for spectators and address concerns they have faced at past events in India.
“India Assist aims to address a wide range of issues spectators may face, such as help with seating, parking, medical issues, lost items and more. The company will have SOPs in place to quickly resolve any problems and also leverage its mobile app and call centre for technical support,” Khatri added.
Speaking at the Mastercard event in Delhi, the Director General Tourism said they are working to promote local experiences and empower women across India. She also highlighted initiatives to document cultural heritage and curate unique experiences involving local communities while complementing India’s rich diversity of culture, heritage sites, festivals, and cuisine across regions.
India Assist sees the Moto GP partnership as an opportunity to showcase its capabilities in providing personalised assistance and hopes it will lead to more collaborations with sports and tourism organisations going forward. “The partnership marks India Assist’s efforts to establish India as a nation that professionally handles major international sporting events. It also demonstrates that India is moving beyond just being known for one sport. The customised assistance model could be expanded to other large sports tournaments and events in India to further improve the spectator experience,” Khatri mentioned during the interaction.
He also shared his views on the adoption of Tourist Information Centers model by state tourism boards and the need for professionally managed centres to provide tourists with accurate and timely information.
Sharing more details about future collaborations, Khatri said India Assist also plans to expand its global reach through new market openings and the integration of services while also tapping into existing opportunities with various states. He mentioned they are in talks with a few state tourism departments to collaborate on tourist assistance services and manage their tourist information centres.
He added that India Assist is in talks with certain airlines and hotel chains as well to partner for personalised travel assistance.
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