Indian Travellers Embrace Last-minute Bookings In The Year 2024

As per India's 2024 Travel report highlights a surge in last-minute travel bookings. Especially among Indian International travellers, with around 48% of flight bookings made just days before departure.

The report also reveals an increased preference for short holidays, a focus on safety, and a growing demand for customised travel experiences, with Dubai emerging as the top international destination.

Niyo, India's leading travel banking fintech platform, has released its 2024 Travel report, revealing a notable shift towards spontaneous travel among Indian international travellers.

Did you know that around 50% of flight bookings were made 0-7 days after departure? Thus, this highlights a growing trend in last-minute travel. This surge in spontaneity was aided by enhanced travel access, with 58 countries now providing visa or visa-on-arrival options for Indian passport holders.

The report also suggested a balance between impulsive and planned trips. Thirty percent of visa applications are submitted 16-30 days before travel. This suggests that while last-minute bookings are rising, some prior planning remains. On average, Niyo processes over 1,000 visa bookings monthly, underscoring the increasing enthusiasm for international travel.

Short holidays continued to dominate, with 66 per cent of trips lasting less than seven days. However, longer breaks of 15 days or more were famous among 17 per cent of travellers who sought more indulgent getaways in addition to shorter escapes. Safety also became a prominent priority for Indian travellers, with Niyo recording the sale of 7395 travel insurance policies totalling INR 43.2 crores in 2024. Younger sellers gravitated towards mid-range insurance plans ranging from INR 50,000 to INR 1,00,000.

Dubai emerged as the top destination for Indian holidaymakers, attracting 45 per cent of travellers, followed by Vietnam, Oman, and Japan. Pop culture influences were evident in shows like Emily in Paris, which inspired many Indian women to visit France. Meanwhile, male travellers favoured Thailand for its beaches and nightlife. Vinay Bagri, the Co-founder and CEO of Niyo, commented, "The rise in spontaneous travel driven by stronger diplomatic ties the aspirations of India's middle class and technology-driven platforms like ours that simplify the travel process. At Niyo, we are committed to making international travel seamless for Indians, enabling them to explore the world confidently."

Niyo's 2024 Travel Report highlights a changing landscape in Indian travel behaviours, with flexibility, experience, and safety taking centre stage. Since launching in 2019, Niyo has expanded its offerings to include zero forex markup cards, travel insurance, flight and visa bookings, and more, serving a customer base of over 1.5 million.

#winterholidays #yearendtravel #lasminutebookings #newyeartravel #christmasholidays