52% Millennials Keen On International Holiday This Summer: Survey

With the vaccination drive against COVID-19 gathering steam across the world and restrictions on movements easing gradually, many millennials are keen on taking an international holiday this summer, according to a survey by BOTT (Business of Travel Trade) Travel Sentiment Tracker.

The survey was done online with over 6,000 millennial travellers across the country during January 2021.

Things are looking up for 2021, as 52 per cent of millennials are eager to take an international holiday this summer as the COVID-19 vaccine ushered in hope that the end to the pandemic is on the horizon.  

As per the survey, 75 per cent of millennials would prefer to go to foreign destinations with fewer COVID-19 cases while 71 per cent would opt for destinations with defined protocols for the pandemic to avoid unnecessary hassles.

The industry finds survey findings encouraging for the travel industry. The findings, they believe, will generate more confidence in an industry, which is currently disappointed by being ignored in the Union Budget.

"However, inbound and outbound are two verticals of travel that go hand in hand. We hope the government will look into opening up borders in India soon, and so will other countries," Travel Agents Association of India President and the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality vice-chairperson, Jyoti Mayal opined.

The survey also showed that 62 per cent of millennials would prefer Thailand, followed by Singapore (58 per cent), UAE (52 per cent), Maldives (46 per cent), and Saudi Arabia (40 per cent) in the short-haul category of foreign destinations.

Malaysia and Indonesia are chosen by 39 per cent millennials each Sri Lanka (36 per cent), Bhutan (31 per cent), Turkey (28 per cent) and Seychelles (24 per cent) coming close among the top preferred short-haul foreign destinations, it noted.

In the long-haul category, the top-ranked international destinations include France (53 per cent), Germany (51 per cent), Australia (50 per cent), Switzerland (49 per cent), the USA (46 per cent), Britain (45 per cent), Canada (44 per cent), Japan (38 per cent).

The ongoing vaccine drive coupled with dropping COVID-19 cases in India has instilled confidence in the travellers, especially the millennials, according to Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) President Riaz Munshi.

"The road to complete recovery is long and tough but we are seeing an uptick in trip-planning. Many of our members are planning trips for 2021 and 2022 because they are aware that demand will be high in popular destinations eventually,” he added.

The survey showed that 40 per cent of millennials are open to spending between Rs 2-5 lakh for their holidays while 35 per cent would spend between Rs 5-10 lakh.

Around 34 per cent of millennials would like to book luxury hotels with limited inventory while 25 per cent each would go for boutique and budget properties,  it said.

 Travellers are still looking for places with fewer crowds, it added.