Indians have a passion for exploring both their vast homeland and destinations abroad. India’s enthusiasm for travel is evident as two of its busiest airports, Delhi and Mumbai, rank among the world’s top 50 busiest airports, alongside three other major passenger hubs: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. To understand the favourite travel destinations of Indians within their country, wowtickets.com, a UK-based platform for booking affordable flight tickets that recently launched in India, has revealed travelling data by analyzing the travel preferences of 36 million Indians nationwide. wowtickets.com conducted a search survey nationally to gather insights about the cities and routes that Indians love to go to within India. The results show that Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Srinagar are the top five preferences of Indians.
Travel holds significant importance for individuals across all walks of life, whether they have a passion for exploration or lead busy professional lives. Motivations for travel vary greatly; some seek new destinations for leisurely escapes with loved ones, while others embark on journeys for professional purposes such as networking or seeking inspiration. According to a report from Crisil, the travel and tourism sector in India is projected to experience a growth rate of 12–14% in the coming years. India’s GDP growth has helped the travel and tourism sector thrive due to advancements in infrastructure and transportation, catering to the evolving preferences of younger travellers who seek memorable and unique experiences. In 2023, experts anticipate that the travel and tourism industry will generate approximately $9.5 trillion in revenue. Furthermore, projections suggest that by 2030, the global tourism market will soar to $16.9 trillion, with an average annual growth rate of 5.4% from 2022 to 2030. During this period, the Asia-Pacific region is poised to experience the most substantial growth compared to other regions.
Based on data from wowtickets.com, travellers from across India are actively seeking destinations renowned for their natural beauty, beaches, religious landmarks, and bustling business centres. Additionally, there is a demand for locations that offer glimpses into India’s rich historical heritage. Amongst the top 15 destinations, Goa is the most preferred destination for travel amongst Indians, followed by Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, owing to professional travel. Srinagar is the fifth most popular destination.
According to the survey, Pune and Patna hold the sixth and seventh positions, respectively. Both cities boast rich historical significance, with ancient forts preserving the memories of kings. Additionally, they are renowned for their vibrant art and cultural heritage. Kolkata, Leh, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow are renowned for their picturesque landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and historical significance. On the thirteenth and fourteenth spots respectively, Varanasi and Guwahati are popular tourist destinations known for their ancient temples, with Varanasi particularly famous for its Ganga Ghats. Guwahati is also recognized for its museums. At the fifteenth, Bagdogra stands out for its tea gardens, stunning views of the Himalayas, and lush forests.
- The top 15 most searched Indians destinations that Indians want to travel to are Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Srinagar, Pune, Patna, Kolkata, Leh, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, Guwahati, and Bagdogra. The total number of searches was 3.6 crores.
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.
Dmitrijus Konovalovas, Director and CEO of wowtickets.com, said, “India’s linguistic diversity is remarkable, with languages changing approximately every 100 kilometres, reflecting the nation’s rich cultural tapestry. The travel industry in India is experiencing rapid growth and is poised to become a significant player in the global tourism market. Predictions indicate that by 2023, the global tourism market will reach a value of $16.9 trillion, with India’s tourism sector making substantial contributions. This is largely driven by the enthusiastic travel aspirations of India’s youth, who prioritize exploration and adventure. As Indians increasingly explore destinations within their own country, domestic tourism receives a significant boost, further fueling the nation’s tourism growth.”
