Dubai has clinched the title of the most sought-after international destination in 2023, according to insights from Skyscanner, a global travel marketplace that examined India’s travel trends. Following closely, Bangkok secured the second spot among Indian travellers this year.
In a notable shift, a growing number of Indians have favoured lesser-known, budget-friendly cities within India that offer rich cultural experiences and diverse cuisines, as highlighted by Skyscanner. Among these, Jagdalpur emerged as the most economical flight destination, with an average round-trip cost of just Rs 3,035 in 2023.
Furthermore, the travel platform identified the most economical monthly destinations for Indian travellers throughout the year, along with the most cost-effective options for a three-star hotel stay and car rentals in 2023.
For those travelling from India, Nha Trang in Vietnam was unveiled as the most affordable city for a three-star hotel stay. Additionally, Doha in Qatar emerged as the top choice for the cheapest car rental, with Indian travellers paying an average of only Rs 2,198 per day.
Business Today quoted Skyscanner’s Travel Trends and Destination Expert, Mohit Joshi as saying, ‘This traveller behaviour correlates with the emerging trends as revealed in our recent Travel Trends 2024 report, which highlights that the value of experiences and cultural exploration will be key considerations, with price no longer solely ruling decision-making for Indian traveller.’
He further added, ‘We also predict Nice in France to be a great-value destination for Indian travellers in 2024, with airfares having dropped by over a third over the past 12 months’.