Consumers’ way of traveling has changed overtime.
Gone are the days when travelers would buy a complete package with a pre-meditated sightseeing tour, including shops and hotels vetted by travel agents.

Much before the pandemic hit in 2020, we witness several prominent changes in traveler behavior that are at the roots of what is happening now.
Customers love curating their own travel based on specific needs, and travel operators are adapting to the needs of the customer.

Blogs and Vlogs emerged as new ways to create travel itineraries. There has been an upsurge of travel bloggers who share authentic and local experiences. In a recent visit to Jaipur, Rajasthan, I followed the shopping advice of a blogger who led me to a wholesale market for precious gems, where one could choose an array of gems and ornate them as per customized designs. Further, a conversation with the locals led me to a hidden eating spot with food I had never tasted before.

Traveler reviews and popular choice awards by TripAdvisor – among the others – helps select the most popular things to do. Apps like google maps, uber and klook make it easy to locate destinations, book local transfers, and buy local experiences, replacing concierges of a traditional hotel.

Value for money has taken precedence. Apps, like Kayak, have made it easier to find best value for hotels and rentals. Amazon, for example, helps compare the actual price of locally made products. It has become a normal practice to shop using google lens and amazon to know the best prices and negotiate accordingly

Most of all, Travel has become a search for an immersive experience into the local culture and heritage. Travelers want to live within local communities and share cultures.; have authentic local experiences. Award winning vacation rental The Bangala, Chennai, Tamil Nadu includes a cooking school as part of the stay experience, demonstrating local Chettinaad dishes. More than tour operators, residents help find authentic and culturally rich experiences. In Kerala, we found a village where the famous dance form Kathakali originated. The experience in this village was far richer than watching a kathakali show organized in a tourist spot.

After isolations and lockdown caused by the pandemic, customers have expressed a desire to move and travel again, showing significant behavioral changes.

In a conversation with a travel guide at the Amer Fort Jaipur, we learnt number of visitors are still down by 70% when compared with 2019, mainly as people are still reluctant and foreign inbound travel hasn’t started.
Yet the desire of sociality and exploration resulted in cases of domestic ‘revenge tourism’  that bring hope for the local tour operators.
While during lockdown, people worked hard, as soon as covid cases appeared to reduce, people travel to wherever they can. Leisure destinations have been overcrowded and city hotels fully occupied as people are fed up of staying at home.

Business has remained largely online, however as result of burnouts, mental fatigue and slower productivity during the pandemic, many people are now opting for Workcations. They prefer traveling to remote locations away from the city, where they can stay safely for a longer period and work while experiencing the nature, local culture and food. Youtube vloggers Ronnie and Barty create video content of some of the most remote Himalayan locations capturing breathtaking visuals of the mountain range.

Interestingly, hotels in leisure destinations that previously had a seasonal cycle of summers and winters, are now getting busier round the year, as people are traveling away from home to work remotely. To cater to long workcation customers, hotels have converted their rooms into small studios with kitchenette

In the past, travelers judged hotels safer heavens due to brand quality. Today whether for business or leisure, people travel looking for immersive experiences. seem to prefer Home-stays to hotels in smaller communities. In reply to this demand, local residents have opened their homes to travelers to stay, through platforms like Airbnb. It is no surprise that while hotels remain financially hurt with the pandemic, Airbnb surpassed 2019 booking levels in the first quarter of 2021.

Customers have now a wide range of Homestays and lodging solution and often choose establishments that can accommodate no more than 6 – 12 people, allow minimal service intervention and, thus, lesser chances of contamination. The variety of home stays and the price range available in this sector makes this a lucrative opportunity. On one hand, for example, Chhotaram Prajapat’s Homestay, Salwas, Rajasthan, run by a family of rug weavers, offer huts in a real village at a cost of $15 a night. On the other hand, Lohono Stays offers uber luxury villas for 6 – 8 guests at a cost of $ 1000 per night across hill stations and beaches in India.
Such homestays have opened doors to untouched locations – removed from the usual tourist destinations- supporting sustainable tourism and creating job opportunities for locals, and retail opportunities for local handicrafts and food.

As with every other epidemic in history, COVID too will pass.
In many countries, life has started coming back to normal. However, with the myriad experience’s homestays provide and the aspiration to experience something unique, hybrid meeting options, and continued flexible working options have already had an impact on accommodation business that will never be the same.
As result of this, the entire industry is looking for new models. for example, city hotels may convert rooms to workcation studios or shared spaces, offering safe accommodation and office solutions along with experiential food and beverage offerings.
Marriott now offers handpicked ‘Staycay’ options across the country including contactless mobile check in and check out, in-room movie experience, and curated meal options. Taj Mahal New Delhi launched 14 Luxury Residences, offering 2 -3 bedroom apartments along with hotel’s other services. Grand Hyatt Mumbai offers The Corner Office, private office spaces sold along with discounts on food and beverage. FabHotels India launched ‘Work from FabHotels’ campaign and offered high speed internet, working desk and in room dining so that people could work remotely.

Consequently, newer remote locations may emerge to add to the diverse tourist destinations that India offers.

An even richer range of choices for our tourists.