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Planning a holiday? Cleartrip reveals the latest year-end travel trends and booking insights

Cleartrip's travel trends report shows that this year people are opting for budget-friendly accommodations, reflecting a preference for experiences over extravagance

by Staff Writer

As the year winds down, people are gearing up for holiday getaways. Cleartrip has compiled year-end travel trends and booking insights.

  • The top domestic destinations for year-end travel among travellers include Udaipur, Jaipur, Varanasi, Manali, Amritsar, Ooty, Munnar, Mussoorie, and Pondicherry. Port Blair has also emerged as a new favourite destination.
  • There has been a significant increase in hotel prices in Manali (3.7x), Amritsar (2.6x), Pondicherry (2.2x), Varanasi (2.2x), and Mussoorie (2.1x) compared to the same period last year. On the other hand, airfares to Port Blair (1.4x), Mussoorie (1.3x), Udaipur (1.1 x), Varanasi (1.1x), and Jaipur and Manali (1x) have also risen compared to the same period last year.
  • Destinations in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, along with the UAE in the Middle East, continue to be popular for year-end travel. Despite a rise in international airfares this year, they remain on average 16% lower than last year.
  • Year-on-year bookings have seen a significant increase in Bali (2.6x), Phuket (2.3x), Abu Dhabi (1.6x), and Vietnam (1.3x).
  • The introduction of new direct flights to Langkawi and Penang, along with increased flights to Kuala Lumpur, has led to a 2.3x surge in bookings for Kuala Lumpur for year-end travel. However, bookings for the Maldives have fallen by 54% compared to last year.
  • Manila (2.5x) and Tbilisi (1.7x) are emerging as popular international destinations for year-end travel.
  • When it comes to accommodation, 51% of customers prefer budget hotels with up to three stars for their year-end vacations, while only 15% opt for luxury hotels.
  • The average duration of stay for travellers during year-end holidays is approximately one week.
  • Gen Z travellers, in particular, tend to travel more towards the end of the year, with their total travel costs increasing by 20%. The majority of year-end bookings were made by travellers aged between 15 and 34.
  • The number of solo travellers has increased by 30% compared to the summer, while family travel has decreased by 5%.
  • This year has also seen a 1.4x increase in domestic leisure bookings and a 1.2x rise in international leisure bookings. Non-leisure travel has also increased by 1.3x this year.

“As we approach the year-end, we’re seeing a shift in travel trends. While favourites like Udaipur, Jaipur, Varanasi, Manali, Amritsar, Ooty, Munnar, Mussoorie, and Pondicherry continue to attract travellers, we’re seeing Port Blair making its mark as a fresh favourite in the domestic travel scene. On the international front, Manila and Tbilisi are catching travellers’ fancy. Despite changes in airfares and hotel prices, the desire to experience new cultures, cuisines, and landscapes remains undeterred. It’s particularly interesting to note that while costs are rising, travellers are increasingly seeking value-driven experiences. More than half of our customers are opting for budget-friendly accommodations, indicating a preference for experiences over extravagance. This trend is a testament to the evolving travel landscape where value, adventure, and authenticity are taking centre stage,” said Anuj Rathi, Chief Business and Growth Officer at Cleartrip.