Indian Travel Trends 2020

Indian travellers are making definitive choices. Here are a few of them

- Nisha Shroff

As per American consulting firm, Bain & Company and Google India’s report on “How Does India Travel,” the Indian travellers took approximately two billion domestic and international trips in 2018, spending nearly US$94 billion on transportation, accommodation, and F&B during their trips. According to this report, our travel and tourism industry is the seventh-highest contributor to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that has increased from 6.7 per cent in 2013 to 9.4 per cent in 2018, nearing developed market levels such as the United Kingdom’s 10.5 per cent. The travel market is expected to grow by 13 per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) this year, touching US$136 billion in 2021.

With this, it looks like the travel landscape will continue to evolve in/from India. In 2020, we can expect varied travel trends to pop up. Airports are turning over a new leaf with their advancements in technology; a new breed of travellers will make smarter travel choices and deeper domestic travel will be on everyone’s bucket list. Here are our travel predictions for the year.

NEXT-GEN AIRPORTS

Expect a hassle-free experience without the burden of several physical documents! With the new biometric, face technology and body scanner systems, Indian airports and airlines are rapidly making their way through a fully tech-driven travel process. The work for this has already begun with India’s full-service carrier, Vistara piloting biometric-based self-boarding solutions at Bengaluru and Delhi airports.

Hyderabad airport has commenced a three-month trial of body scanner for passengers on a voluntary basis. Upon successful completion of the trial, which began on October 12, 2019, body scanners will be deployed across the domestic terminal for security checks. If implemented effectively, the body scanner system will contribute towards an easy and swift security clearance.