As the summer season approaches, Dubai has emerged as the most popular international travel destination for Indian travellers, according to the MakeMyTrip Summer Travel Trends Report released on Wednesday. The report reveals that Dubai, along with Bangkok, Singapore, Bali, and other destinations featured in the Top 20 international destination list, collectively account for 64% of all international search volume. Beyond the Top 20 list, the report highlights the growing interest in destinations like Luxembourg, Langkawi, and Antalya among Indian travellers. Notably, the search rates for Baku, Almaty, and Nagoya have witnessed significant growth. The Top 20 international destinations for 2024 remain largely unchanged from last year, with Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, Bali, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Toronto, Phuket, Doha, Abu Dhabi, London, Colombo, Sharjah, New York, Jeddah, Baku, Ho Chi Minh City, Muscat, Hong Kong, and Riyadh making the list. The report also indicates that the average duration of international trips is typically between 5-8 days, with Thailand emerging as the most popular destination for holiday packages, followed by Dubai and Bali. Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO of MakeMyTrip, emphasized that summer is typically one of the busiest quarters for travel bookings. He stated, “This year too, the buoyancy in the sector continues. We are observing a healthy growth in searches over those recorded last year at this time.” Magow noted that summer leisure travel in India often begins with the Southern region, followed by the West and then the North. The report also highlighted a surge in traffic and bookings on redBus during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections dates, as people prioritize visiting their hometowns to cast their votes. For domestic holiday destinations, the report indicates a preference for destinations with cool mountain terrains. Goa has maintained its position as the most searched destination, while Srinagar and Udaipur have witnessed the highest growth in searches. Similar to its April report, MMT observed a surge in searches for pilgrimage destinations, with Puri and Varanasi being the most popular. Furthermore, Ayodhya has consistently recorded growth in search volumes, with a notable increase of 585% in 2023. Domestic destinations experiencing the highest search growth this summer include Ayodhya, Lakshadweep, Nandi Hills, Chalakudy, Chevella, Omkareshwar, Marayoor, Jibhi, Chakrata, Sonmarg, Ganpatipule, Purulia, Khatu, Dwarka, and Thiruvannamalai.
Dubai Emerges as Top Summer Travel Destination for Indian Travellers
