Skift Take
European destinations have predictably missed out on being included in the list of preferred outbound travel choices from India for the summer. Retrograde visa policies have effectively ensured that these destinations lag behind in the competition to attract Indian travelers.
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International leisure flight bookings from India have increased by 40 percent for trips between June and August compared to the same period in 2022, according to travel solutions provider RateGain. In its latest Pulse report powered by Adara, RateGain said this represents the highest level of outbound leisure flight bookings from India in the post-Covid years, even as demand is still 15-20 percent lower than highs in 2019.
Singapore received the highest flight bookings from India, followed by San Francisco, Melbourne, Toronto, and Bali, according to the report. U.S., Canada and UK are the most booked destinations for the period while Bali and Singapore are the most popular choices in Asia. Thailand remained the top destination choice of leisure travelers while destinations like Qatar and United Arab Emirates were mostly booked for business travel.
Family travelers exhibited a significant preference for high-priced accommodations, with a little less than 20 percent of them booking hotels with an average daily rate exceeding $400. Family travelers booked twice as many rooms with an average daily rate greater than $400 compared to couples.
A report published by tourism consultancy and research firm IPK International had highlighted that Ind