NEW DELHI, 21 November 2019: More Indian travellers are booking so-called ‘slow travel’ according to the newly released Skyscanner APAC Travel Trends 2020 Report.
Looking at the latest travelling habits in India’s outbound market, Slow Travel and JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) travel are now the top of travellers’ priority lists for the year ahead.
Skyscanner’s booking data identifies the travel trends, of over 100 million monthly users. Its APAC Travel Trends 2020 Report is based on data points that compare travel from October 2018 through to September 2019.
The results reveal not only the latest global travel insights but also provide a detailed understanding of the booking preferences of individual countries.
The rise of Slow Travel
Skyscanner APAC senior director, Paul Whiteway comments: “2019 was all about solo trips and micro escapes, but the leading travel trend for 2020 will be Slow Travel, which saw growth of 38% for Indian travellers opting to travel more slowly in the coming year.
“2020 is the year to ditch being in a hurry. Travel is no longer about seeing everything on a pre-set list and returning home exhausted. It’s about taking the time to stand and stare – to truly connect with the location and its people.
Slow travel has its roots in the Slow Food Movement. Enjoying the experience of connecting with your travel companions, taking unscheduled, leisurely walks and simply resting whenever the mood takes you is what Slow Travel is all about. As a result, 2020’s travellers will be returning home refreshed and rejuvenated, their inner balance restored.”
JOMO Travel a new trend
Closely linked with the Slow Travel trend is that of JOMO travel, which saw growth of 27% between 2019 and 2020. JOMO – ‘Joy of Missing Out’ – travel is all about escaping the hustle and bustle of modern-day life.
2020’s JOMO travellers will be seeking out less crowded cities around the world, travelling offseason and, most importantly, not spending a single second wondering about how their trip might look on social media. The focus is entirely based on the experience itself and the delight to be found in discovering somewhere new.
Sustainability focus
One area of increasing importance for Indian travellers is sustainable travel.
Skyscanner reports, “We can and must do everything in our power to make better travel choices and preserve the world for generations of future travellers” and it seems that a growing number of travellers agree. Sustainable travel saw a growth of 58% between 2019 and 2020, according to the latest figures.
2020’s most popular destinations
The Skyscanner report also showcases the breadth of the global outlook that Indians have when considering their travel destinations. While the three most popular destinations were Bangkok (Thailand), Dubai (UAE) and London (United Kingdom), the top ten list included Singapore, Denpasar, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Toronto, Paris and Colombo.
Up and coming locations
Skyscanner’s data also reveals the top three emerging destinations: Phuket (Thailand), Malé (Maldives) and Istanbul (Turkey). These three destinations have shown the biggest year-on-year growth in bookings, at 139%, 76% and 34% respectively. Nairobi (Kenya), Seoul (South Korea), Budapest (Hungary) and Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam also registered double-digit bookings volume growth, further emphasising the diversity of travel experiences that Indian travellers are seeking in 2020.
For more information visit www.skyscanner.co.in/media/travel-trends-2020
