Indian Travellers Embrace Last-minute Bookings In The Year 2024

Niyo's 2024 Travel report highlights a surge in last-minute travel bookings among Indian International travellers, with 48 % of flight bookings just days before departure. The report reveals an increased preference for short holidays, a focus on safety and a growing demand for personalised travel experiences, with Dubai emerging as the top international destination.

Niyo, India's leading travel banking fintech platform, has released its 2024 Travel Report, revealing a notable shift towards spontaneous travel among Indian international travellers. Nearly 50 per cent of flight bookings were made just 0-7 days before departure, highlighting a growing trend towards access, with 58 countries now offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival options for Indian passport holders. The report also found a balance between impulsive and planned trips, with 30 per cent of visa applications submitted 16-30 days before travel. This suggests that while last-minute bookings are on the rise, some prior planning remains in place; on average, Niyo processed around 1000 vis bookings each month, underscoring the increasing enthusiasm for international travel.

Short holidays continued to dominate, with 66 per cent of trips lasting less than seven days. However, longer breaks of 15 days or more were popular among 17 per cent of travellers who sought more indulgent getaways in addition to shorter escapes. Safety also became a significant priority for Indian travellers, with Niyo recording the sale of 7395 travel insurance policies totalling INR 43.2 crores in 2024. Younger travellers gravitated towards mid-range insurance plans ranging from INR 50,000 to INR 1,00,000.

Dubai emerged as the top place for Indian holidaymakers, attracting 45 per cent of travellers, followed by Vietnam, Oman, and Japan. Pop culture influences were evident in shows like Emily in Paris, which inspired many Indian women to visit France. Meanwhile, male travellers are favoured for its beaches and nightlife.

Vinay Bagri, Co-founder and CEO of Niyo commented, "Stronger diplomatic ties drive the rise in spontaneous travel, the aspirations of India's middle class and technology-driven platforms like ours that simplify the travel process. At Niyo, we are committed to making international travel seamless for Indians, enabling them to explore the world confidently."

Niyo's 2024 Travel report highlights a changing landscape in Indian travel behaviour, with flexibility, experience and safety taking centre stage. Since launching in 2019, Niyo has expanded its offerings to include zero forex markup cards, travel insurance flight and visa bookings and more, serving a customer base of over 1.5 million.

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