Strong year for hotel bookings in India

Tourico Holidays today shared 2017 hotel booking data that shows a 97 percent increase in hotel bookings in India compared to the same time last year.

According to Tourico’s data, the European Union was a driving force behind the increase with EU travelers booking 109 percent more rooms in 2017 compared to this time last year. The Asia-Pacific region also increased its hotel bookings in India by 53 percent year-over-year, while North America increased its bookings by 32 percent year-over-year. Specifically, China (+115% YoY), the United Arab Emirates (+113% YoY), Canada (+105% YoY), the United Kingdom (+57% YoY), and the United States (+20% YoY) were amongst the countries with the largest hotel booking influxes in India.

“India is currently experiencing a boom in travel demand – and with a diversity of source markets increasing their bookings, it’s a safe bet that the country’s tourism industry will experience healthy growth throughout the next decade,” said Madhuri Khanna, Regional Director of Product Development in Southeast Asia for Tourico Holidays. “A relaxed e-visa regime and an emphasis on bolstering tourism has India primed to become a major global destination in the years to come. To ensure suppliers are prepared to capitalize on the current and future influx, Tourico is working closely with its Indian hotel suppliers and offering industry-leading business intelligence tools.”

Travel distribution clients in India are also noticing an uptick in international travel from a changing Indian population. Tourico Holidays is reporting a 28 percent year-over-year growth in outbound hotel bookings from India. Asia-Pacific bookings have largely contributed to the growth, with a 58 percent increase from APAC in 2017 – including significant growth from China (+127% YoY), Malaysia (+101% YoY), Thailand (27% YoY), and Australia (+24% YoY).

Hotel bookings from India to the EU increased by 20 percent year-over-year, led by Turkey (+90% YoY), Spain (+33% YoY), and the United Kingdom (+28% YoY), while hotel bookings to North America increased by 10 percent year-over-year.

“Encouraged by India’s leading GDP global growth rate, a growing middle class, and a millennial age block that is increasingly enjoying more disposable income, the country is rapidly becoming an outbound travel force,” said Khanna. “Our local Indian office will ensure that all of our distribution clients have the professional support and industry expertise necessary to take advantage of the influx.”