New Places and Faces: Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Booking.com research reveals that 77% of Indian travellers hope to find travel romance on their next trip
The year 2022 will be the year to make the most of unpredictability, as the world continues to tide through the uncertainties of the pandemic. As travellers remain optimistic about travel possibilities and make up for lost vacation time, recent research by leading travel brand Booking.com revealed that finding holiday romances is expected to be on Indian travellers’ agenda this year. With the season of love upon us, Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2022* research revealed that 2022 will be the time for Indian travellers to branch out and make some new connections.
Swipe right on new faces and places
Tired of swiping through the same faces for the past year and a half, people will also be making use of their favourite dating apps while on vacay in 2022 with travel providing an exciting opportunity to find love. Booking.com’s research predicts a resurgence of holiday romances, with 77% of Indian travellers hoping for one on their next trip. In fact, the research also reveals that 74% of Indian travellers would want to stay somewhere close to plenty of nightlife options so that they can meet new people. While a vacation can act as a starting point for holiday romance, it doesn’t have to stop when parting ways at the end of the trip thanks to video calls becoming part of our everyday lives. This implies that we expect to see more than a few of these holiday romances turn into the real deal.
Travel as a means to expand social circle
Meeting new people is often the starting point of romances. For many, the pandemic meant spending an extended and intense period with our closest friends and loved ones, giving limited facetime with new people. In 2022, we expect to see travellers using their vacations as an opportunity to expand their usual social circles, with 81% of Indian travellers wanting to meet new people while away. Furthermore, 77% of Indian travellers look forward to socializing while on vacation in order to expand their social circles.
As Valentine’s Day draws closer, Booking.com data** shows that Indian travellers are travelling to leisure destinations like Goa, Jaipur, Manali and Udaipur besides metros from 11th to 14th February 2022 to celebrate. Hotels emerged as the most booked accommodation type during this time followed by resorts and guest houses.
Ritu Mehrotra, Regional Manager, South Asia at Booking.com said, “The pandemic has forced us to rearrange our priorities in life and realize that freedom has never been more precious than it is now. In 2022, we will not only see travellers reconnecting with friends and family but also actively seeking out new relationships, as shared in our Travel Predictions 2022 research. As travellers set out to explore new relationships and meet new people while away, Booking.com will be there to make it easier for them to reclaim their travel mojo and enjoy all of the unforgettable experiences travel has to offer.”
For a deeper dive into Booking.com’s travel predictions for 2022, visit :
*Travel Predictions 2022 research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who plan to travel for business or leisure in the next 12-24 months. In total 24,055 respondents across 31 countries and territories were polled (including 501 from Argentina, 1003 from Australia, 500 from Belgium, 1001 from Brazil, 500 from Canada, 1000 from China, 1007 from Colombia, 1001 from Croatia, 508 from Denmark, 1002 from France, 1000 from Germany, 1005 from Hong Kong, 1000 from India, 502 from Israel, 1003 from Italy, 1002 from Japan, 500 from Mexico, 501 from The Netherlands, 501 from New Zealand, 500 from Peru, 1000 from Russia, 1005 from Singapore, 1002 from South Korea, 1002 from Spain, 501 from Sweden, 501 from Switzerland, 504 from Taiwan, 500 from Thailand, 1000 from the UK, 1002 from the US and 501 from Vietnam). Respondents completed an online survey in August 2021
**The data scientists at Booking.com looked at the most booked domestic destinations and accommodation types by Indian travellers between February 11 to February 14, 2022. Destinations stated are as per current top bookings and are subject to change as the travel environment changes