We have come across many surveys from destinations experts and researchers looking into ways in understanding the individual traveller and their reactions post covid. But most importantly it is how tourists will travel and when can they travel again. The answer is not yet 100% clear to most parts of the world and the travel industry cautiously implementing new procedures and a new normal way to explore the destinations.

In a survey completed in May 2020 by The Indian Luxury Traveller Report: Covid Edition tops Maldives as a destination Indian luxury travellers want to travel in 2020. The survey report was conducted online by 3500 Indian luxury travellers. 

In this survey more than 70% of the respondents polled were from the big metros of India, 73% were in the 25 – 55 age bracket, 45% were salaried employees, 24% were self-employed/consultants while 14% were entrepreneurs and 3% were retired. Here are more survey indications by the travellers. 

• Domestic Travel will see a huge surge in the number of affluent travellers, as Indians will drive or Fly to any Civid-free destination. Goa Remains Top. 

• Is International Travel Dead for 2020? A whopping 70% remain open to travelling abroad on vacation this year and Maldives emerges as the destination they are most likely to choose, presumably for its natural beauty and luxurious resorts with a wide range of in-house activities for families to enjoy. Followed by Central Europe. 

• The Indian Luxury Traveller assumes that airlines, hotels and restaurants will have systems for hygiene and safety in place, but they want to see them been followed by themselves. Trust will be the key. 

• The survey also indicated that luxury travellers are willing to pay extra to certain services such as a daily deep clean of the room, or even a one-night-empty buffer (see graphic). And fully aware of the impact of travel on the environment, 65% said they are willing to pay extra if the hotel or resort is following sustainable and eco-friendly practices. 

• The affluent Indian traveller is also anxious to return to restaurants, with 81% stating that being able to check what sanitisation measures a restaurant is taking would be the most important factor in their decision; followed by covid test for the staff, and contactless menu and payment systems and temperature checks for all guests at the entrance. 

India has resumed domestic flight movements after complete halt for almost 02 months. According the sources there is no cap on how many routes airlines can operate but have a strict upper limit on a daily arrivals and departures. 

India’s aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a press said the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger flights would continue until midnight on June 30. 

Infographic: Siddhi Mehta

Feature image by Kandima Maldives