IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD

The number of women travellers is increasing at a significant rate in India, show reports. We speak to the stakeholders in the travel and hospitality industry to understand the changing needs and interests of this segment.

- RIAAN JACOB GEORGE

QUALITY PRODUCT 

Shibani Vij started WeGoBond in 2013. This is a travel company run by women, dedicated only to women, and specialises in leisure travel to offbeat destinations. "Having travelled extensively, I realised that there was a strong unmet demand among urban Indian women for travel to relatively unknown destinations," Shibani Vij comments. "If the insecurities related to such journeys were eliminated or minimised, then many more women would gladly give up home and hearth, if only for a few days, to travel to remotest India for the most adventurous holiday of their lives," she adds. What, then, is the typical demographic of this 'emerging' segment of female travellers? Are they necessarily unmarried and unattached? Vij refutes this old stereotype by highlighting her clientele that includes women in their 40s, usually married and with a family, but many who are single and independent earners. We got talking to other travel stakeholders to understand where the Indian female travellers are emerging from. The no-brainers would be the metros like Mumbai and Delhi. However, travel agents tell us that there is increased interest from cities such as Pune, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow as well.