The Department of Tourism in Bhutan has unveiled the Druk Neykor programme, an enriching tourism experience encompassing 108 sacred sites and monuments across the country. Designed to offer a profound exploration of Bhutan’s rich history, culture, and spirituality, the programme welcomes travelers of all ages seeking a deeper understanding of the nation’s unique heritage.
The Druk Neykor programme kicks off with tours to 16 significant sites within Thimphu, including the revered Wangditse Lhakhang, Tshelung Ney, and Talangkha Drugyel Goenpa. These sites are conveniently accessible either by road or through scenic hikes, with various accommodation options nearby such as hotels, guesthouses, and campsites ensuring a comfortable stay for visitors.
Chosen based on their sacredness, historical importance, easy accessibility, and popularity, the Druk Neykor sites offer a pilgrimage-like experience.
Travellers can opt for the Druk Neykor programme through authorised Bhutanese Tour Operators, although visiting the sites independently is also possible. What makes the experience truly immersive is the unique passport system of Druk Neykor, where travellers collect stamps at each spiritual site visited. From the iconic Tiger’s Nest monastery to the tranquil Druk Wangyel Chorten, Dochula, each stamp narrates a tale of spiritual awakening and cultural immersion. Moreover, the stamp book features QR codes, providing detailed information about each site upon scanning.
The Druk Neykor programme invites visitors to embark on a journey of spiritual discovery amidst Bhutan’s stunning landscapes and natural beauty. It offers a captivating opportunity to traverse ancient pilgrimage routes, engage with local communities, and partake in age-old rituals and traditions that have shaped Bhutan’s spiritual heritage for centuries.
Dorji Dhradhul, Director General, Department of Tourism-Bhutan, emphasised, “The spiritual legacy of Bhutan harmonises with its natural allure, and Druk Neykor presents a unique chance to explore both facets in unison. We extend a warm invitation to travellers worldwide seeking a genuinely spiritual and immersive travel encounter to participate in the Druk Neykor programme and contribute to promoting Bhutan’s pilgrimage sites and distinctive culture.”
The guide features a diverse range of tourist events, including iftar and suhoor offerings, as well as luxurious accommodation packages, ensuring an unforgettable experience for tourists during the holy month of Ramadan. From live performances to traditional bazaars, food and beverage vendors, and more, participants can immerse themselves in the essence of Ramadan in Bahrain.
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As the Holi and Good Friday festivals coincide in March, Indian travellers have a great opportunity to enjoy a longer break. This year, Holi falls on March 25, and Good Friday is on March 29, giving people a shorter workweek to enjoy a longer leisure time without using up too much annual leave.
Many travellers are taking three days off to extend the holiday to nine days, thanks to the unique opportunity of Holi and Good Friday falling in the same week. According to various travel agencies and online portals, there has been a huge surge in demand, with close to 350 per cent increase in both domestic and international travel for the extended Holi weekend compared to last year.
Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2024 report found that 63 per cent of Indian travellers plan to spend more on travel in 2024 than they did in 2023. This is evident from the bookings for destinations like New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore in March 2024, which have already surpassed 75 per cent of the bookings recorded for March 2023, even though it is only mid-month. This suggests that this travel season is expected to be more robust than the previous Holi festival.
A growing trend in travel is the search for holidays that offer cultural immersion and spiritual connection.
Indians travellers are seeking a diverse range of experiences during their leisure time, from exploring vibrant cities to soaking in cultural festivities. According to data from Booking.com, some of the most searched leisure destinations, besides popular metros, include Udaipur, Jaipur, Goa, Lonavala, and Manali.
Furthermore, spiritual destinations are gaining popularity, with Vrindavan, known for its Holi celebrations, emerging as one of the top five most searched destinations in India. Other popular destinations include Rishikesh, Puri, and Varanasi.
For international travel, the announcements of visa-free entry has been a game-changer for destinations like Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand, resulting in a significant uplift of approx. 35 per cent. Sri Lanka has seem maximum benefit with demand up by 40 per cent, followed by Malaysia at 35 per cent and Thailand at over 30 per cent.
Higher spends
Indians are spending 25 per cent higher this Holi compared to last year.
Airfare trends
Fueled by this growing demand in 2024, airfares have risen slightly by 12 per cent on the Mumbai to Delhi route and by 17 per cent on the Bangalore to Delhi route compared to the week of Holi in 2023. Similarly, for travellers flying from Delhi to Bangalore, airfares have surged by 16 per cent as opposed to the same time last year. That said, prices are not all rising at the same time, airfares on the Delhi to Mumbai route for example had a drop of 12 per cent in price when comparing airfares for the week of 11 March versus 18 March.
On the other hand, there has been a 6-10 per cent drop in airfares (compared to Holi last year) for domestic favourites like Srinagar, Chandigarh, Andamans, Bagdogra, Goa and Jaipur from hubs like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi. In the subcontinent, airfares to Kathmandu and Colombo have witnessed a drop of approx. 5 per cent – inspiring an uplift in air travel.
According to data shared by EaseMyTrip, there has been an impressive surge of around 190 per cent is noted in the Delhi-Goa, while the Mumbai-Lucknow route has seen an uptick of approximately 30 per cent. Despite a rise in airfares by 10-15 per cent, a 2.5 times surge in searches for the long weekend has been observed, compared to previous years.
“We have seen a 46 per cent YoY increase in flight searches for Holi travel this year. Domestic fares for popular routes have shot up 25-30 per cent in the last week of March as travellers are making most of the back to back long weekend on account of Holi and Good Friday holiday. International travel is also picking up with Dubai, Singapore, Bali & Bangkok emerging as traveller favourites this Holi,” said Aloke Bajpai, Chairman, Managing Director and Group CEO, ixigo.
Destination trends
Digital travel platform Agoda analysed its search data and found Dubai on top as the favorite international travel spot. Domestically, Goa is the most popular destination searched for Holi and Good Friday.
For those planning an international getaway, nearby Dubai is the most popular destination, with Singapore coming in second spot. Thailand’s visa waiver policy likely helps it secure two of the top five most popular spots for travel with Bangkok number three and Phuket fifth. Bali (Indonesia) is the fourth most popular international destination for the Holi and Good Friday break.
“As Holi and Good Friday long weekends approach, leisure bookings are on the rise. The top domestic flight destinations at MakeMyTrip are Goa, Srinagar, Guwahati, Port Blair, and Bagdogra. Popular hotel destinations include Udaipur, Jaipur, Puri, and Varanasi. Premium bookings are higher than usual by close to 10 per cent. Internationally, short-haul favorites include UAE, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, while top long-haul destinations are the UK, USA, Australia, Japan, and Germany. Hotel bookings for religious destinations such as Puri, Varanasi, and Amritsar have doubled since last year, emerging as the second most preferred category after beaches,” said Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip.
Trains have been planned to connect major destinations across the country on railway routes like Delhi-Patna, Delhi-Bhagalpur, Delhi-Muzaffarpur, Delhi-Saharsa, Gorakhpur-Mumbai, Kolkata-Puri, Guwahati-Ranchi, New Delhi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Jaipur-Bandra Terminus, Pune-Danapur, Durg-Patna, Barauni-Surat etc,” the Railway’s press statement said.
“The spike in demand is primarily fueled by individuals travelling from metro areas to their hometowns in Tier II and III cities. We anticipate a surge in bookings for destinations such as Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jaipur, Mathura, Vrindavan, Varanasi, and Amritsar,” mentioned Nishant Pitti, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.
According to data from Airbnb, South Goa has emerged as the top Indian domestic destination with a nearly 330 per cent increase in searches for stays for the upcoming long weekend, highlighting its appeal as the preferred beach destination. Additionally, the cultural allure of Varanasi, Jaipur, and Pondicherry as well as popular hill stations like Mussoorie, Ooty and Manali are also driving diversified interest for short getaways during the upcoming long weekend.
On the international front, Athens leads the way with an approximately 400 per centspike in searches, earning its place at the top of the wishlist for Indian explorers, closely followed by Istanbul, Bangkok, and Rome. These cities represent a blend of historical richness and cultural vibrancy that resonates deeply with Indian travellers.
Krishna Rathi, Senior Country Director India Subcontinent and Maldives at Agoda, stated, “The consecutive long weekends for Holi and Good Friday provide a unique window for Indians to plan extended trips. Whether people are looking to explore India or abroad, it’s a great opportunity to whet the travel appetite among Indians, which has only increased since the recent waiver of visa requirements. As more Indians look to expand their horizons, Agoda is committed to offering great value deals on accommodations, flights, and activities at home and abroad to help them see the world for less.”
“With Indians becoming increasingly savvy with their travel planning, it is not surprising that travel enthusiasts are seizing the upcoming extended break for Holi and Good Friday to jet off to nearby destinations. As a result, cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore are stealing the spotlight as prime hubs with Kolkata, Goa and Hyderabad following closely behind. Many are also making the most of the long weekend by flying to international hotspots like Dubai, London, and Bangkok,” said Mohit Joshi, Travel & Destination Expert at Skyscanner.
Drivecations: uptick of 25 per cent in closer to home/drivable destinations with increased length of stay from 3-4 days to 5-7 day. Travellers in/around Delhi are opting for destinations including Naukuchiatal, Munsiyari, Kangra, Kanatal, Kausani, Ranikhet, Mukteshwar; Bhandardara, Amboli, Sindhudurg, Kolad, Kamshet, Harnai-Anjarle, Saputara, Silvassa, Saputara for customers in Maharashtra & Gujarat; Hampi, Gokarna, Coorg, Puducherry, Kanyakumari for customers in Karnataka/Tamil Nadu.
Outdoor Adventure: 30 per cent increase in interest for outdoor and adventure travel with biking trips in Srinagar – Leh – Manali, Manali to Spiti Valley, Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer. White water rafting in Rishikesh, Leh-Ladakh, Uttarakhand. Paragliding in Shillong, Gangtok. Camping in Jaisalmer, Kullu, Chopta. Trekking in Sikkim, Coorg, Mcleodganj. Snowboarding in Auli Pahalgam and Sethan. Safari in Pench, Kanha, Corbett, Ranthambore.
Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook India said, “This year, we are witnessing a significant demand uptick of 5x vs last year and increased spends of 25 per cent; more so given the longer duration of two weekends. In addition to celebrating Holi, our segments across Young India, families, and ad-hoc groups of friends are looking to explore destinations within the country; also shirt haul international options.”
Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head, SOTC Travel said, “The upcoming Holi week combined with the subsequent Easter weekend offers strong potential for a week long vacation, and our data indicates surge from not only from metros and mini-metros, but also our Regional tier 2 and 3 cities. What is noteworthy is that we are seeing a surge in air-inclusive holidays fuelled by the dip in airfares over the extended week/weekend; drivecations too are seeing a brisk business.”
Just before the onset of the summer travel season, India and Thailand last week finalised an agreement that will allow airlines to deploy more flights between the two countries. In a meeting in Bangkok, the countries agreed to increase capacity by 14,000 seats per week for both sides which is an increase by 43 per cent.
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The campaign aims to instill aspiration among Indian travellers and establish a loyal customer base with travel agencies based on the total number of passengers booked within the specified timeline. Scheduled to run for four months, from February to June 2024, the campaign seeks to capitalise on the growing interest in travel to Kenya among Indian tourists.
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The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, slated from May 6-9 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, is gearing up to shed light on India’s burgeoning outbound tourism sector, poised to reach a staggering USD 143.5 billion annually by the decade’s end.
Recent data reveals that over 30 per cent of Indian travellers prefer Middle East destinations, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia topping the list. India stands as Dubai’s primary source market, with 1.9 million visitors recorded in the first 10 months of 2023. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, aims to welcome 7.5 million visitors by 2030.
ATM 2024 will feature a dedicated India Summit, titled ‘Unlocking the True Potential of Inbound Indian Travellers,’ slated for May 6. This summit, in collaboration with VIDEC Consultants, will delve into India’s role as a key tourism growth market and explore current and future opportunities.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, highlighted India’s rapid outbound growth, fueled by a burgeoning middle class. “By 2030, India’s total travel expenditure will be valued at USD 410 billion, a substantial increase from USD 150 billion in 2019,” she stated.
Moreover, a survey by Acko Insurance underscores Indian travellers’ willingness to spend up to USD 7,000 on international trips, further boosting the appeal of Middle East destinations. Dubai, in particular, stands out as the preferred city destination, thanks to its proximity to India and enhanced connectivity.
Under this program, tourists can obtain a visa within two to five working days, allowing them to stay in Dubai for up to 90 days, extendable once for a similar period, with a maximum stay of 180 days within a year. This flexible visa option caters to both leisure and business travelers, offering unparalleled convenience and connectivity.
Curtis emphasised the significant role of Indian expatriates in driving business travel and bleisure in the Gulf states. “With over 8.5 million Indian expatriates currently working in the GCC, business travel and bleisure will undoubtedly underpin this growth,” she noted.ATM 2024 anticipates a record number of travel professionals representing both outbound and inbound travel to India. With an expected 20 per cent increase in exhibitors from India, the event will showcase the diverse offerings of Indian tourism, featuring exhibitors like TBO.com, Taj Hotels, Rezlive, and Rategain, among others.
Aligned with its theme, ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship,’ ATM 2024 will serve as a platform for stakeholders from across the Middle East and beyond to explore innovative solutions and opportunities in the ever-evolving travel industry.
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Wise, a leading global technology company specialising in international money transfers, has unveiled crucial insights into ATM withdrawal fees for Indian travellers visiting popular destinations across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
As travellers gear up for international trips in 2024, Wise’s latest research provides guidance on managing finances abroad, particularly focusing on ATM withdrawal fees. By analysing data from its extensive database, Wise sheds light on the potential costs associated with cash withdrawals in various APAC destinations, helping travellers optimize their vacation budgets effectively.
According to the research, Turkey emerges as the costliest destination in the region for ATM withdrawals, with travellers facing an average fee of 4.44 per cent per transaction. This is followed by Bhutan (3.16 per cent) and Nepal (2.79 per cent). On the flip side, destinations like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong offer friendlier ATM fees, with fees under 1 per cent.
Among popular travel spots for Indian tourists, Thailand ranks fifth with an average ATM withdrawal fee of 2.62 per cent, followed by South Korea (2.55 per cent) and Vietnam (1.85 per cent). In contrast, mainland China and Malaysia boast some of the lowest ATM fees at 0.01 per cent and 0.03 per cent, respectively.
2022 brought a resurgence in foreign tourist footfall, with FTVs surging to 1.75 lakh, showcasing growth of 695.45 per cent. However, the numbers still were below the pre pandemic levels. Going forward, Goa Tourism plans to intensify its promotion efforts in international markets by participating in prominent travel marts and exhibitions and organising international roadshows to attract more foreign tourists to the state.
To put the impact of these fees into perspective, withdrawing ₹10,000 per day for a week in Turkey would result in approximately INR 3,108 in fees. In comparison, the same withdrawal in Malaysia would incur only INR 21 in transaction fees.Surendra Chaplot, Head of Global Product, Wise, emphasised the importance of being aware of hidden expenses when conducting international transactions, including foreign transaction fees and undisclosed exchange rate markups. Chaplot highlighted Wise’s commitment to raising consumer awareness about such fees to empower travellers to make informed financial decisions.
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Skyscanner, a leading global travel platform, has sucessfully completed its groundbreaking ‘Everywhere Agency‘ initiative in India, heralding a new era of virtual travel consultancy. In an exclusive interview with ETTravelWorld, Mohit Joshi, Skyscanner’s Travel Trends & Destination Expert, shared insights on the genesis of this innovative campaign, its success and its potential impact on the travel industry, particularly in India.
The ‘Everywhere Agency’ campaign, described as the world’s first virtual pop-up travel consultancy, was designed to connect travellers with record-breaking adventurers who have explored every country worldwide. Inspired by Skyscanner’s ‘Everywhere Search’ tool, this initiative aims to assist travellers in discovering new destinations, especially when they are unsure of their travel preferences.
‘Everywhere’ is the most searched-for destination by Indian travellers on Skyscanner, with 98 per cent of Indian travellers keen to try somewhere new in 2024.
Joshi, elaborating on the campaign, explained, “Everywhere Agency is manned by world record travellers who share their experiences, tips, and insights, guiding travellers to unearth hidden gems and enriching travel experiences.” The initiative is divided into two components: Everywhere Appointments and Everywhere Guide. Everywhere Appointments offer travellers 10-minute one-on-one sessions with renowned travellers, enabling them to seek recommendations and guidance for their journeys.
Highlighting the significance of this campaign for Indian travellers, Joshi revealed, “We appointed individuals like Anunay Sood, a renowned traveller and social media travel influencer from India, to cater to the specific needs of our Indian audience.” These appointments were available free of cost, allowing travellers to access valuable insights and recommendations. Other Everywhere Agents include individuals like Gunnar Garfors, the first to visit every country in the world twice; Renee Burns, a world record holder for travelling to the most countries in a year in a wheelchair.
Addressing the campaign’s global reach, Joshi clarified, “While travellers from India can interact with local agents, individuals from other countries can access appointments with agents from their respective regions.” The campaign was launched in 14 countries, including India, offering travellers a unique opportunity to connect with seasoned travellers.
This mature market has seen further meteoric growth, with Indians going on pilgrimages in unprecedented numbers to seek spiritual and religious solace. Religious destinations like Varanasi, Amritsar, Haridwar and Tirupati Devasthanam temple have seen record visitations in 2023. This trend is only estimated to grow in the coming years with mega events like the inauguration of the holy shrine at Ayodhya in January 2024.
Joshi further emphasised the campaign’s alignment with evolving travel trends, citing Skyscanner’s Travel Trends Report 2024, which revealed a surge in Indian travellers’ interest in cultural exploration and unique experiences. “We foresee a significant shift in travel preferences, with travellers seeking diverse cultural experiences and prioritising unique destinations,” Joshi stated.
Commenting on the campaign’s longevity, Joshi affirmed, “Everywhere Agency appointments were available for January, with plans to extend the initiative based on traveller feedback.” He encouraged travellers to leverage this opportunity to interact with seasoned adventurers and gain valuable insights for their upcoming journeys.
According to data from Skyscanner, Indians’ passion for global exploration has reached unprecedented heights in 2024, with mounting early interest in travel indicated in its data. In the last week of 2023, the search volume for overseas travel by Indian travellers increased by 39 per cent compared to the same period last year. Looking ahead into 2024, a remarkable 98 per cent of Indian travellers are keen to try somewhere new while 42 per cent share that one of their biggest struggles when booking travel is deciding where to go.
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As 2023 draws to a close, Skyscanner, the leading global travel marketplace, takes a moment to reflect on a year filled with exciting adventures and groundbreaking developments in the world of travel. Taking a retrospective look at the year 2023, Skyscanner highlighted the travel patterns and preferences of Indian travellers. From popular destinations to budget-friendly options and evolving features, here’s a breakdown of the insights gained from Skyscanner’s Year in Travel report.
Top Spots for Indian Travellers in 2023
Dubai secured its position as the most sought-after international destination for Indian travellers in 2023. Renowned for its modern extravagance, artificial islands, mega malls, and majestic skyscrapers, the city captivated Indian travellers with its gleaming charm.
Bangkok claimed the second spot among international destinations, offering a blend of bustling markets, ornate temples like Wat Pho, and vibrant nightlife along Khao San Road. The city’s energy and cultural richness resonated with Indian travellers throughout the year.
Cheapest Flights, Hotels & Car Hire of 2023?
Skyscanner data identified Jagdalpur in India as the cheapest flight destination, with an average return flight cost of just INR 3,035 in 2023. The trend also showed a rising preference for alternative, budget-friendly Indian cities that promise rich cultural experiences.
The data further revealed Nha Trang in Vietnam as the most economical city for a three-star hotel stay, offering picturesque coastal beauty and cultural heritage. For car rentals, Doha in Qatar emerged as the city with the cheapest offerings, with Indian travellers paying only INR 2,198/day on average.
Additionally, there was a notable 25 per cent increase in women travellers, showcasing a growing inclination towards solo female travel. The company reported a 60 per cent surge in travellers exploring the seven northeastern states, demonstrating a diverse range of travel preferences among users. There was also a 10 per cent increase in travellers below the age of 10 and a 12 per cent increase in those above 60.
Travel Trends and Insights
Mohit Joshi, Skyscanner’s Travel Trends and Destination Expert, commented on the emerging trends, stating, “Indians have embraced global exploration despite tightened budgets. The Travel Trends 2024 report indicates that the value of experiences and cultural exploration will be key considerations for Indian travellers in the coming year.”The report predicts Nice in France as a great-value destination in 2024, with airfares dropping significantly over the past 12 months. Additionally, it foresees Indian travellers heading abroad to attend live performances by their favorite artists, with a significant percentage expressing willingness to travel for short-haul and long-haul concerts.
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DreamFolks, the airport services aggregator in India, has taken a noteworthy step in the travel sector with the launch of its exclusive membership program- The DreamFolks Club. Without the need of a debit or credit card during travelling, this initiative aims to capture the attention of ambitious Indian travellers and looks at redefining the way people perceive and enjoy travel and luxury.
“We have bundled our world-class services into exclusive memberships targeted at luxury comfort for all budget ranges. As India’s leading airport experience disruptors, we are now extending premium travel and lifestyle services to a wider range of customers. I see the DreamFolks Club as integral to manifesting our founding belief – Making premium travel and lifestyle experiences accessible to everyone,” said Liberatha Kallat, CMD of DreamFolks, articulating the ethos behind The DreamFolks Club.
The Membership Tiers and Benefits
The DreamFolks Club offers an array of membership packages designed to cater to diverse travel and lifestyle needs. With a one-year validity and starting price ranging between INR 8000-10000, the Club introduces four card variants. The entry-level Aspire package opens the doors to premium travel, offering complimentary access to airport lounges within India, ideal for frequent travellers seeking comfort and convenience.
The Premium package elevates the benefits by granting access to global airport lounges, discounted lounge purchases, and exclusive deals on various travel and lifestyle services. Moving up the ladder, the Select package includes airport and railway lounge access as well as offers complimentary services such as beauty & grooming, floral gifting, and healthcare.
For those seeking luxury, the Elite package delivers global airport lounge access, access to golf courses, and a comprehensive suite of premium lifestyle services.
Upon joining, members gain instant access to these services. They can opt for a new or extended membership, both valid for a year.
Adding to this, Balaji Srinivasan, Executive Director and CTO at DreamFolks said that while the membership is valid for the individual/ member, it’s possible to include guests from the first package onward. “Additionally, there are good discounts if you wish to bring friends, family, or children along, offering a great way to share the benefits,” he shared.
Surge in lounge utilisation among travellers
During the launch event in New Delhi, Kallat also revealed that DreamFolks conceived the Club membership initiative after recognising the industry’s prevailing challenges, much like a gap identified 11 years prior. These challenges encompassed the rise of new sectors in banking and fintech.
“Moreover, there’s a significant surge in lounge utilisation among travellers, especially families, wherein each member possesses a card. As awareness is rising as well as there is a spike in leisure travel, so does the utilisation of lounge services in Tier II and Tier III cities. Additionally, not all introduced services are uniformly available across cards, limiting benefits,” she added.
This structure, now available in the form of Club membership, aims to streamline the user experience and address market voids, ensuring simplicity and inclusivity in accessing services for all members, said Kallat.
“11 years ago, we pioneered a card-based program, followed by a hybrid model integrating digital access six years ago. Five years back, we introduced web access for a seamless user experience. Subsequently, the self-check-in kiosk innovation alleviated lounge queuing by providing QR codes well in advance. These innovations, unique to Dream Folks globally, led us to the launch of our exclusive membership program – The Dream Folks Club,” she recalled.
As per recent studies, Indians are set to spend over USD 42 billion annually on outbound travel by 2024. This, combined with India’s increasing inclination towards sports-centred travel has been propelled by a number of factors, says Monish Shah, Founder & Chief Business Officer at DreamSetGo. In this article, he deep dived into the factors contributing to India’s emerging sports tourism market.
Every enterprise is our target
Sharing insights into their marketing strategy, Kallat told ETTravelWorld, “Regarding strategies to boost program participation and the target audience, we’re not limiting ourselves to banks or network providers. Our focus extends to enterprises. Every enterprise is our target as they’re keen on offering these benefits not just to employees but also to clients and channel partners. We’re planning to sell these services directly to enterprises through various channels, with a current emphasis on this sector.”
When asked about plans for collaborations with other industries for added value, Kallat emphasised how their suite of services holds value for a wide spectrum of an organisation’s stakeholders, making every enterprise a potential audience for these services.
Speaking further about the business-centric nature of their offerings, Sandeep Sonawane, Chief Business Officer at DreamFolks shared that through the Dream Folks Corporate Membership program, the company offers a powerful tool for businesses to elevate their relationships with key stakeholders. “These curated travel and lifestyle experience bundles provide an effortless solution for companies to incentivise, reward, and attract employees, customers, and channel partners, thus enhancing customer retention and loyalty. It also elevates your brand’s perception as a premium one, enabling companies to drive brand preference,” he said.
Sonawane further highlighted how these memberships could serve as powerful Rewards and Recognition incentives, enhancing employee engagement and fostering meaningful connections.
Commanding 90 per cent market share
Currently, DreamFolks functioning as a travel services aggregator, having an exclusive in-house technology platform, empowers various entities like Banks, Card Networks, Airlines, OTAs, and Enterprises to curate tailor-made offerings for their respective customers.
Notably, DreamFolks manages lounge facilities and other associated benefits for the majority of India’s top Banks including HDFC, Axis, ICICI and more. With an impressive dominance, it commands a 90 per cent share in the domestic lounge access market pertaining to India-issued debit and credit programs.
“Our journey commenced with lounges, which traditionally relied solely on business class passengers for their operation. Dreamfolks transformed this landscape entirely. Presently, over 80 per cent of the traffic directed to these lounges, and subsequently, the revenue of all airports, is facilitated by Dreamfolks. What was once exclusively dependent on business class travellers has now metamorphosed due to our efforts. Dreamfolks pioneered this change within the Indian industry. However, we didn’t confine ourselves to lounges alone; we diversified our services, venturing into meet-and-assist programs, airport transfers, airport spas, F&B, transit hotels, visa doorstep services, and recently, golf. The list of services continues to expand as Dreamfolks remains committed to continual innovation,” Kallat told ETTravelWorld.
The company made a significant move by going public in Sep ’22, securing listings on both the BSE and NSE. This decision marked a pivotal moment in their trajectory, which shows their global footprint now spanning across 1,500+ touchpoints spread over 100+ countries worldwide.
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Indian travellers are going places. As India’s middle-class grows, incomes rise and increasingly more Indians are willing to spend big on travel, the world wants their money. Recently, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia have offered visa-free entry to Indians, Vietnam and Indonesia are planning to consider the possibility of introducing visa-free entry for Indian tourists. Iran and Kenya are the latest to join the list of visa-free countries for India besides other countries.
Russia has proposed a regime with India that will allow tourists from both nations to visit each other’s countries without visas if they travel in organized groups. Germany is happy to have increasing numbers of tourists from India and they are doing their best to cope with the visa applications, Georg Enzweiler, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy, said recently. The remarkable increase this year is due to diverse campaigns and offers, he said.
The foreign travel boom
With a host of Asian countries offering visa-free travel to Indian tourists, demand for outbound foreign travel has gone up in the past two months, say travel companies.
“The announcement on visa-free entry for Indians to Thailand has seen strong interest – with an uptick of 30 per cent in demand compared to last year,” Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, has told TOI. “With visas forming a critical deciding factor for Indian travellers, the recent update on visa-free entry to Malaysia from December 1 is a smart move, clearly intended to catalyse visits from the powerful and high growth India market,” he added.
“Indians are leveraging on every opportunity to travel and with the holiday season approaching, we witnessed a growth of over 20 per cent YoY in our bookings for October-December2023,” Daniel D’Souza, President & Country Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel told TOI.
Scapia, a travel fin-tech company, told TOI that the online searches for flights and hotel accommodations have sky-rocketed in the past month because of relaxed visa guidelines. “Hong Kong leads with an astounding 130 per cent surge in searches in the last quarter of 2023. Following closely, Bangkok boasts a substantial 70 per cent rise in flight searches in the last quarter of 2023. Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, has also joined the travel boom with a noteworthy 50 per cent increase in flight searches,” it said.
More Indians might be holidaying overseas this Christmas-New Year season than last year as relatively cheaper fares and packages, better connectivity, and easier entry requirements have made the proposition more compelling, ET has reported. Tour and travel companies such as Thomas Cook, SOTC and EaseMyTrip have seen up to 30 per cent uptick in demand for short-haul international routes compared to last year.
Ajay Prakash, board member of industry body Federation of Associations for Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), has told ET that international travel is looking more “robust” than domestic travel.
India experienced a remarkable 140 per cent surge in visa applications last year compared to 2021, according to Prabuddha Sen, the Chief Operating Officer for South Asia at VFS Global. He noted that due to Covid restrictions and subsequent geopolitical sensitivities in certain markets, many global destinations are keen to attract Indian travellers. Some countries, such as Indonesia and Azerbaijan, introduced tailored e-visa solutions, including for Indian nationals.
A notable 130% surge in flight searches for Hong Kong was observed by Travel Fintech Scapia in the last quarter of 2023. The platform also saw a 70% rise in searches for Bangkok and a 50% increase in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The platform also saw a remarkable rise in stay searches with Colombo, Sri Lanka, leading with a 550% increase.
D’Souza of SOTC Travel reported robust growth of 227 per cent in outbound travel between January and June this year compared to the same period last year. This growth extends beyond India’s major cities to include tier two and three cities in regional India, driven by rising disposable incomes and the aspirational value of vacations.
Indians have emerged as the second largest group of overseas visitors to the United States this summer, despite long wait times for visa interviews and high airfares.
Why foreign want Indian tourists
Visa-free entry is a carrot to expand the $28 billion that 27 million Indians spent overseas in 2019, Andy Mukherjee wrote in Bloomberg. Those numbers had swelled eightfold and sixfold, respectively, in the two decades before the pandemic.
Indians are not cutting corners while visiting foreign countries. India ranked as the fourth highest spending international market with a spending of $700 million in New York City, NYC Tourism and Conventions EVP, Global Communications, Tiffany Townsend said a few months ago.
A major reason why foreign countries, big as well as small, are courting Indian travellers is China. With the reduction in the number of Chinese tourists, the world is looking at India. “Every destination that I go to, I’m asked about getting Indian travelers there. Whether that’s Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Australia or Singapore. Everybody’s thinking about how they might have potentially lost out on getting the Chinese travelers for a certain period. The Chinese were the number one source market for many destinations globally, and now they would like to focus on getting Indian travelers,” Laura Houldsworth, MD, Asia Pacific (APAC) at Booking.com, said recently.
As the Indian economy grows, disposable incomes are rising too. In the age of social media, foreign travel has become aspirational, especially in Tier II and Tier III cities and towns. A rising middle class is willing to spend on foreign travel. Availability of vacation loans helps this trend. Foreign countries aim to tap this growing spending power of the Indian traveller.
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Ninety five per cent Indian travellers prefer to use credit cards during their international travels to make their experience seamless, revealed the findings of Global Travel Intentions Study 2023, conducted by digital payment facilitator, VISA.
Various offerings like travel miles, cashback, rewards, high acceptance, foreign exchange rates, and high limits on spending remain the key factors that drive international card usage, it found.
Visa has been executing the Global Travel Intentions (GTI) study biennially for over a decade to understand travel and payment behaviours of its users, as well as to map the emerging trends in the travel landscape.
During the ET Travel & Tourism Conclave, Arvind Singh, Former Tourism Secretary & AAI Chairman highlighted India’s tourism growth, projecting a INR 16.5 trillion contribution to the economy in 2023, a mere 3.5 per cent dip from pre-pandemic 2019 figures. Singh also discussed global tourism’s outlook, foreseeing a 23.3 per cent surge in Travel and Tourism GDP, nearing USD 9.5 trillion for 2023.
“Consumers are increasingly wanting to substitute cumbersome procedures with secure, safe travel experiences,” said Sridhar Keppurengan, Business Head of Cross Border Payments, India & South Asia, Visa. “The security offered by a trusted brand’s card and the convenience of the widest global acceptance remain paramount, effectively removing complexities associated with exchanging and carrying the foreign currency,” said Keppurengan. Keppurengan said the Global Travel Intentions Study 2023 is a compass guiding the company through the ever-evolving landscape of travel and payments. “It’s clear that cards are persistently simplifying cross-border transactions, emerging as the favored choice for consumers seeking to amplify their overall travel experience, particularly for those journeying outbound from India,” he said.
The study identified sustainability, infrastructure, and experiential travel to be key drivers of the sector. As per its findings, 86% of individuals are highly interested in eco-friendly and sustainable travel and offerings and 60% look for such options actively.
The study found that infrastructure is important to 65% of individuals and 43% say destinations promoting sustainable initiatives would encourage them to travel sustainably. 75% prioritise the social environment (including good environmental practices and safety) while choosing a destination and 73% of individuals look forward to local cultural experiences, it said. In terms of hospitality experience, 86% of travellers were found to prefer hotels,30% prefer bed and breakfast set-ups, and 24% prefer hostels as accommodation choices, it revealed.
Among Indian consumers, international destinations like Australia, the UAE, the US, and Canada remain top preferences. The study found that 70% of travellers choose a destination based on leisure activities available, like entertainment and activities (35%), shopping options (27%), and local food and dining options (26%). Relaxation has been the main driver for travel (26%) and remains the top motivation (51%) for the next trip as well, it concluded.
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