Contrary to popular perception, women travellers have become confident and savvy in planning and taking trips on their own
Despite the recent spate of incidents highlighting the lack of safety for women in India, women-travellers in the country appear fairly high on confidence. There have been recent claims of foreign inbound travel being impacted due to negative sentiment surrounding safety of women in the country, but our country-women take the lead in showing how to tackle these concerns. These and other interesting insights have emerged in an online survey conducted among women-travellers by MakeMyTrip. According to the survey, 49 per cent of women feel safe traveling in India. When quizzed on whether they feel safer travelling in India or overseas, an overwhelming 63 per cent responded, “It depends on the destination and not the country”. On the other hand, 21 per cent showcased preference to travel overseas citing safety concerns.
The survey seeks to unravel the travel habits and preferences of women travellers in India. The survey revealed a break from tradition with solo-travel picking up in India. An encouraging proportion of 44 per cent of women leisure-travellers in India have travelled alone. India is also the preferred destination for first-time solo travellers possibly due to comfort and cultural alignment. Seventy per cent of solo-women travellers have so far travelled only within India, while ten per cent had only travelled solo overseas and 20 per cent had covered both.
Travelling in all-women groups has also gained popularity among Indian women. Women across age-groups are increasingly taking to travelling in all-women group of friends or even strangers to destinations both within and outside India. The survey showed that out of 43 per cent women who have travelled in an all-women group, 80 per cent had travelled within India, 15 per cent overseas, while five per cent did a mix of both.
Elaborating on the survey results, Mohit Gupta, chief business officer, holidays, Make My Trip said, “In the past few years we have seen queries and bookings from women-travellers increase significantly. Not only are women decision-makers when it comes to a holiday-destination preference but a lot of them have taken the purchase decision in their hands. Women travellers have grown confident and savvy in planning and taking trips on their own and in groups. They are now making independent trips with friends, colleague and groups with shared-interests. There are a variety of factors for this — increasing incomes, paucity of time to coordinate holidays with all family members, and a growing number of financially secure women in the 40-70 year age-group.”
Another interesting finding that emerged is that a majority of women (44 per cent) prefer travelling to the hills, whereas 36 per cent like beaches and 20 per cent like to indulge in adventure travel.
Not surprisingly, the survey revealed that Goa is the favourite travel destination across demographics. From twenty-somethings to senior citizens, it has experiences to offer to women of all age-groups. An overwhelming majority of 72 per cent of women opted for Goa, while ladakh occupied the second-favourite spot with 12 per cent votes, and Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kashmir tied at the third spot with 5 per cent votes each. Andamans Islands followed close behind with 4 per cent votes.
Among international destinations, Thailand scored due to its reputation as a fun beach destination and a shoppers’ paradise. Dubai and Europe tied second with 21 per cent votes.