Thank you dear subscribers, we are overwhelmed with your response.
Your Turn is a unique section from ThePrint featuring points of view from its subscribers. If you are a subscriber, have a point of view, please send it to us. If not, do subscribe here: https://theprint.in/subscribe/
international holidays have become a mandatory inclusion in the annual travel plan of many Indians among all age groups including backpackers. Indian domestic holiday goers have shown a marked growth in recent years. Indians are ready to travel and spend more with some even taking more than one vacation in a year. Travel trends in India continue to evolve with a growing appetite for unique and offbeat destinations like Sikkim, NE India, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Holiday goers are drawn to scenic hills and mountain peaks, a beach retreat is the top choice and cityscapes. The tranquility of the countryside appeals to some Indian travelers.
To use a cliché, holidays were different in our growing up days decades ago. Those were the times when travel was generally planned only during the summers, when schools and courts – my father was a lawyer – were closed for the “vacations’ ‘. The excitement of expectations of good times was palpable in the family. The next few weeks would be spent at the ancestral house in the village, overloaded by doting grandparents. The trip itself was an adventure, first by road for twelve miles to catch one of the two trains that would take us to the quaint, idyllic, verdant little town on the banks of a river. It was normally a night’s journey at the end of which we reached the quiet railway station, lit with hurricane lanterns, before dawn. We would be received by my youngest uncle, only eleven years elder to me with two vehicles. One was a horse drawn carriage for passengers and the other a bullock cart for the luggage. The river had to be crossed at a causeway, as the only bridge connecting the town with the railway station entailed taking a circuitous route. At the crossing, passengers alighted from the carriage and walked across the shallow waters after removing and carrying out footwear across. Once we had to take the long route via the bridge as the water level in the river was high due to opening of the sluice gates of a dam river, as the water level in the reservoir rose to dangerous levels because of unseasonal rains and the flow was very swift.
The house was on a large compound with many fruit trees. Varieties of mangoes, sapota, coconut, almond, gooseberry, grapes and there was also an apple tree which did not give any fruits. Uncles and aunts with their families converged for the all paid holidays, bringing with them cousins from all over India. Two dogs Caesar and Kariman added spice to the adventurous sojourn. It was not all play and no work though. Every morning, the older children had to write down the “tables” of 2 to 16 and copy in good handwriting the first paragraph of each of the articles on any page of the daily newspaper distributed at random. After that, the rest of the day was sublime and adventurous. Such holidays would cost a fortune these days.
Times have changed, the economy has taken over the holiday industry. Some would say, rightly so, creating livelihood for many. No arguments there.
The global travel landscape has transformed greatly and India is at the forefront of this shift, with Indian travelers now seeking unique and authentic experiences beyond conventional travel destinations. There is also a surge in travel spending among Indians. The shift in India’s income structure, with increase in household earnings further reinforces the prioritization of travel experiences. Lately there has been a noticeable shift where Indians are choosing to travel overseas. While traditionally, the UK and USA have been popular destinations, there has been a shift in preferences towards countries in other parts of the globe. UAE, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, and Nepal have emerged as highly sought-after destinations, reflecting the increasing diversification of international travel options for Indians. There has also been a rise in demand for places where nature and adventure are preferred to beaches. Nature walks among rural trails, advanced adventure sports such as trekking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, white water rafting, boating, etc. are included in the activities during holidays.
Tailpiece: In essence, the travel trends highlight the economic impact on the travel and tourism industry which has to adapt to meet the dynamic needs of the influential demography of the neo travelers. Spending holidays with kith and kin in ancestral homes are Passé. The travel and tourism industry in India is projected to generate revenue of nearly $24 billion in 2024, according to industry promotions body India Brand Equity Foundation. At an estimated annual growth rate of 9.6% between 2024 and 2028, the industry is also expected to reach a market volume of $34.25 billion by 2028.
Col KL Viswanathan is an Indian Army veteran and a contemporary affairs commentator. The views are personal.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint