Significant travel intent for Q4 2021: Thomas Cook survey

The survey shows significant Travel Desire: 85 per cent of respondents keen to travel (77 per cent International, 61 per cent domestic); Over 60 per cent indicate clear intent to visit UAE with Expo 2020 Dubai; also cricket fixtures of IPL & T20

THOMAS Cook India and its Group Company SOTC Travel Ltd survey reveals insightful customer data, behaviour and travel trends such as Significant Travel Desire; 85 per cent of respondents are keen to travel (77 per cent International, 61 per cent domestic); over 60 per cent indicate clear intent to visit UAE with Expo 2020 Dubai; also cricket fixtures of IPL & T20

The UAE (Dubai-Abu Dhabi) and Expo 2020 Dubai emerged as a clear driver of international demand for Q4. Both the travel giants have jointly surveyed over 2,500 customers across India's key metros including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai and mini-metros like Pune and Tier 2 and 3 source markets, including Jaipur, Lucknow, Madurai, Kochi, Indore, Cuttack, Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Surat.

With the re-opening of borders, vaccine acceptance/easing of restrictions, Indians are displaying strong travel appetite for UAE (Dubai & Abu Dhabi). Expo 2020 Dubai, starting October 1, 2021 and continuing up to March 31, 2022, has created a significant opportunity - with over 47 per cent of respondents indicating keen interest to visit the event at least once this year.

Willingness to Spend: Approx. Rs 70,000 for a trip of 4 nights to upward of Rs 2,50,000 per person for luxury products.

Rajeev Kale, president & country head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, "Our survey highlights strong travel demand for the last quarter 2021, with 60 per cent customers indicating UAE with Expo 2020 Dubai as their top preference; followed by the cricket fixtures of IPL/T20."

The survey further reveals strong appeal across range of traveller segments – from India's millennials, families, students, and business to our MICE corporate and across India's metros as well as Tier 2-3 source markets.

Expo 2020 Dubai offers an invaluable platform for ideation, R&D, business and networking for industry associations and businesses.

"MICE being a strong segment driver, they have designed unique programmes – tailor made and co-curated based on the interests of specific corporates across Insurance, Automobile, Pharma, e-Commerce, start-up and Trade Associations. We are also seeing interest in gala dinners and events at the Expo site itself," Rajeev adds.

"In addition to Expo 2020, the exciting cricket fixtures of the T20 World Cup & IPL, have allowed us to combine the two opportunities with a compelling product for the India market," Rajeev says.