Here are the top 15 travel destinations that Indians prefer travelling to, says data from wowtickets.com
Indians exhibit a fervent passion for exploring both their expansive homeland and destinations abroad. This zeal for travel is evidenced by the bustling activity at major airports like Delhi and Mumbai, which rank among the world’s top 50 busiest airports, alongside Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. To discern Indians’ favored travel destinations within their country, wowtickets.com, a UK-based platform for booking affordable flight tickets, recently launched in India and analyzed the travel preferences of 36 million Indians nationwide. Their findings reveal that Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Srinagar top the list of preferences for Indian travelers.
Travel holds profound significance for individuals from all walks of life, whether driven by a thirst for exploration or the demands of busy professional schedules. Motivations for travel vary widely; some seek new destinations for leisurely getaways with loved ones, while others embark on journeys for professional purposes such as networking or seeking inspiration. According to a report from Crisil, India’s travel and tourism sector is poised to experience robust growth of 12–14% in the coming years. This growth is fueled by India’s GDP expansion, which has facilitated advancements in infrastructure and transportation, catering to the evolving preferences of younger travelers who crave memorable and unique experiences. Projections indicate that the travel and tourism industry will generate approximately $9.5 trillion in revenue by 2023, with the global tourism market expected to soar to $16.9 trillion by 2030, with the Asia-Pacific region leading in growth.
Based on data from wowtickets.com, travelers from across India are actively seeking destinations known for their natural beauty, beaches, religious landmarks, and vibrant business centers. Additionally, there is a demand for locations that offer insights into India’s rich historical heritage. Among the top 15 destinations, Goa emerges as the most preferred among Indians, followed by Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, primarily for professional travel purposes. Srinagar occupies the fifth spot.
The survey highlights Pune and Patna in the sixth and seventh positions, respectively. These cities are renowned for their rich historical significance, with ancient forts preserving the legacies of bygone eras, as well as their vibrant art and cultural heritage. Kolkata, Leh, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow are celebrated for their picturesque landscapes, cultural richness, and historical significance. Varanasi and Guwahati, at the thirteenth and fourteenth spots, respectively, are popular tourist destinations known for ancient temples and historical sites, with Varanasi particularly famed for its Ganga Ghats. Guwahati also stands out for its museums. Lastly, Bagdogra, at the fifteenth spot, is notable for its tea gardens, breathtaking views of the Himalayas, and lush forests.
In summary, the top 15 most searched destinations by Indians for travel include Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Srinagar, Pune, Patna, Kolkata, Leh, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, Guwahati, and Bagdogra, with a total of 36 million searches conducted.
The total searches in the pie diagram are in lakhs.
- The top 15 most searched Indian destinations that Mumbaikars want to travel to nationally are Goa, Delhi, Bengaluru, Srinagar, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Dehra Dun, Patna, and Hyderabad. Total searches were 31.86 lakh.
- The top 15 most searched Indian destinations that Delhiites want to travel to are
Goa, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Srinagar, Pune, Patna, Kolkata, Leh, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Guwahati, Bagdogra, Kochi, Bhubaneswar. Total searches were 35.09 lakh. - The top 15 Indian destinations Bengalureans wants to travel to are Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, Pune, Lucknow, Patna, Ahmedabad, Ranchi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, Bagdogra, Guwahati. Total searches were 24.86 lakh.
- The top 15 most searched Indian destinations that Hyderabadis want to travel to are Delhi, Goa, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai, Tirupati, Varanasi, Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Chandigarh. Total searches were 10.98 lakh.
- The top 15 destinations Chennai travellers searched nationally are Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Port Blair, Goa, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Pune, Kochi, Guwahati, Madurai, Patna, and Srinagar. Total searches were 90.5 lakh.
- The top 15 destinations travellers from Kolkata searched are Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Guwahati, Bagdogra, PortBlair, Goa, Hyderabad, Chennai, Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Agartala, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar. Total searches were 10.97 lakh.
Indians also searched for some strange locations where there were no direct flights or fewer flights available:
Lucknow to Gangtok, Lucknow to Puducherry, Mumbai to Leh, Pune to Goa, Srinagar to Mumbai and Delhi to Shirdi, Deoghar to Kochi, Lucknow to Imphal, Agra to Jaipur, Gaya to Chennai, and Nasik to Varanasi. Total searches were 10.97 lakh.
According to Dmitrijus Konovalovas, Director and CEO of wowtickets.com, India’s linguistic diversity is striking, with languages shifting about every 100 kilometers, showcasing the nation’s rich cultural diversity. The travel industry in India is undergoing rapid expansion and is positioned to become a significant player in the global tourism market. Predictions suggest that by 2023, the global tourism market will reach a value of $16.9 trillion, with India’s tourism sector making notable contributions. This growth is primarily fueled by the ambitious travel aspirations of India’s youth, who prioritize exploration and adventure. As more Indians venture to destinations within their own country, domestic tourism experiences a substantial boost, further driving the nation’s tourism growth.
Source: Hotelier India
