The Indian travel and
hospitality industry has evolved over the years, from hyper-competitive
markets, changing demography, an oversupply of hotel rooms and an untapped
religious tourism market, the Indian hospitality sector is set to see a big
change. Furthermore, millennials, a generation of independent travelers have
given a big shove to the ways of old conservative travel style. Research also indicates
that millennials travel more extensively than previous generations. According
to a survey report titled The Millennial Travel Survey 2017, conducted by
Skyscanner India, 62% of Indian millennials—those between the ages of 18 and
35—vacation two to five times a year. So here’s how they're changing the game,
perhaps forever.
1.
Exploring unique destinations: There are
certain characteristics that, over time, come to define a generation. The
millennials, it seems, will be known as adventurers, risk takers, and
opportunists. It's a time honored cliche that teens and young adults rebel
against their parents, wanting to go their own way. This new set of travelers are
now focusing on zones or nations that are unexplored in a conventional way
2.
Digitization at its best: New age travellers
use the internet as a vast infrastructure for their travels. With different
motives and different travel habits every backpacker is different, but they do
have a few things in common. The computerized change is a blessing from heaven
for this contemplative generation that likes to travel. Millennials now prefer
to do everything on the go on their gadgets, from checking in—to requesting
room administration—to opening the room entryway itself. Truth be told, one can
design a whole excursion—from booking to sleep time and home again—while never
conversing with a live human
3.
Solo travels are on the rise: Today’s
millennial solo traveller is no longer defined by his/her relationship status
or whether he/she has like-minded friends. Instead, they are increasingly
choosing to travel alone in order to do what they want, when they want and get
a bit of hard-won ‘me time’. It would seem that choosing to travel solo is an
increasingly an endeavour of self-preservation
4.
Experiential travel on the rise: For
Indian millennials today, the itineraries aren’t always 100 % confirmed in
advance; the destinations are unusual, exotic and offbeat, the resting places
are more like luxury villas than luxury hotel rooms, and often they choose
experiential travel over old stereotypical travels. In a survey conducted by Goldman Sachs, 60% of
millennials did not feel strongly about owning a house[1]
while 82% of millennials save up for experiences that they can connect to[2].
The travellers are becoming more experiential and often
looking to explore regions rather than simple sightseeing tours.
5.
'Bleisure' – merging travel and
leisure: From the new age digital nomad tapping out a blog post on a beach in Maldives
to the manager checking her emails on a brunch date in Amsterdam, from the
full-time freelancer in a co-working space to the elite engineer coding from
his home office, technology has blurred the boundaries between work and play,
professional and personal, career and down time. “Work hard, party harder!” is
the mantra for the new age Indian millennial who turn business travel into
weekend getaways and demand the best of both worlds. Welcome to the world of
“Bleisure travel” where business and pleasure go hand-in-hand enabling them to locate
their own harmony between work satisfaction and individual enlightenment
6.
Religious travel on the rise: Apart from
being the center of cultural and natural tourism; India is all set to become
the spiritual tourism capital of the world. More international hotel chains are
likely to increase their expansion and investment plans in India. The industry
is offering lucrative jobs and profitable investment opportunities. For
example, taking a trip to the Kumbh is the new cool for India’s millennials this
year. Generation X wants to absorb and post the offbeat culture of the Kumbh
on social media, while exploring the local cuisine, art and
craft of the holy city of Prayagraj
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