When looking for hotels or a homestay, the first thought that probably crosses your mind these days is, “How many reviews does this place have?” And if you don’t post that picture of you chilling by the pool on your mid-week getaway, complete with location tags, what’s the point of travelling?
With social media updates becoming one of the first things people do while travelling, it is no surprise that wi-fi and a large social media presence feature in the top five requirements of Indian vacationers according to a recent survey.
According to the travel trends survey conducted by the online rentals platform Airbnb to mark World Tourism Day on September 27, wi-fi is the most requested indoor amenity for Indian travellers. The survey, conducted using the online survey platform Pollfish covered 10,000 respondents across nearly 15 Indian States and the National Capital Region, according to Airbnb.
A whopping 94% of the respondents said social media played a key role during the planning of a vacation – whether it was for traveller reviews, recommendations or just pictures of the place. Out of the respondents in the survey, 47% said wi-fi was the most preferred indoor amenity, while access to a pool turned out to be the most requested outdoor amenity, with 48% giving it a nod.
A significant portion of the respondents also wanted sustainable and eco-friendly options.
Family friendly
Beyond the smartphone-toting millennial, overall Indian travelling habits are changing too. According to a 2018 Bloomberg report, the World Travel & Tourism Council expects India to become the fourth-largest travel and tourism economy behind China, the U.S., and Germany. This means honeymoons and couples-only holidays are no longer the norm; your next-door family-of-four, and the group of retirees who just want to chill are also on the move.
The Airbnb survey noted that nearly 51% of Indian travellers opted for family-friendly amenities such as playsets, garden areas, activity zones, TV, and access to books as the most important amenities while choosing accommodations. And among travellers in the age group of 45-54 years, this number spiked to 66%.