Evolving patterns in Indian tourism

Meaningful and personalised travel

What travellers want are genuine experiences with local communities and cultures across the globe, thus they prefer customised tours which are more common among the luxury travellers. These personalised itineraries, supported by AI make it possible for tourists to get tailor-made travel experiences as per their demands. Privacy comes before luxury today. Travellers want intimate experiences now instead of generic ones that they had been used to before. They would rather have something personal and deep.

The role of AI in travel

The planning of trips using AI has completely changed the travel world. It also helps provide personalised itineraries, which makes sure that before going to an agent, a trip is well-planned. However, Mayal reckons that it can help rather than be seen as a threat against agents. This is in addition to minimising human errors and guarantees improved service quality and assists the agents in adding an extra personal touch which cannot be replicated by AI.

Surge in spiritual and wellness tourism

People started prioritising their health and well-being after re-evaluating their lives post-COVID. We can see a notable rise in spiritual and wellness tourism. Due to this, there is a growing interest in spiritual retreats and wellness centres. Yoga and Ayurveda are hence attracting tourists more than ever for holistic rejuvenation. The yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh and Kerala are known for its Ayurvedic treatments, have seen increase in tourism. There is a unique blend of local traditions, natural therapies, ancient wisdom and modern luxury.

Short trips and sustainable travel

The burgeoning demand for impromptu trips and ease of access to direct airlines has made brief vacations more popular. Governments and private sectors are putting more efforts in promoting eco-tourism due to the importance of sustainable tourism. This involves strategies such as protection of biodiversity, the promotion of ecotourism and creation of sustainable destinations. Many tourists now go for green lodgings and activities that reduce their carbon emissions. These initiatives are catching on among many people including plastic free areas, conservation schemes and locally based tourism. Destinations like Sikkim which have shown great success in implementing environmentally friendly measures serve as examples for sustainable tourism practices.

India’s position as a global travel destination

India has focused on several key areas that makes it one of the leading travel destinations, globally. Policies have been put in place to support ecological stability and cultural heritage preservation. Moreover, Mayal underlined the significance of public-private partnership in driving these efforts. The private sector is central to investment in sustainable practices as well as providing back up for government policies. This was exemplified by TAAI and Ministry of Tourism’s joint participation at Arabian Travel Mart (ATM), which demonstrated India’s dedication to inbound tourism promotion.

Lesser-known destinations have a great potential

India has many unknown destinations with huge tourism potential. There is an increasing popularity for Andaman and Nicobar Islands for their virgin beaches and an amazing cultural heritage. In a similar case, Meghalaya which is known for its neatness and beauty keeps attracting more visitors. Arunachal Pradesh is a serene place that offers travellers a chance to experience vibrant tribal culture. Other upcoming destinations include Majuli in Assam, the Gurez Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, and the picturesque city of Kochi in Kerala.

Technology as an enabler

Mayal does not see technology as a threat, but instead looks at it as an enabler. She believes that by using it correctly, we can be better than the best. “The human errors start getting, eradicated. If you’re filling a name and my name is Jyoti and I spell it J-O-Y, it immediately corrects it,” she explains. Using technology in our best interest will bring many positive changes and it will make our work easier. Using technology along with your brain can help relieve your work, AI knows where had you gone earlier, what had you done and what are you looking for because of the technology packages that one can create. This facilitates your thinking process and help your mind give you the right specifications based on the earlier information already provided by the AI.

The role of technology in future travel

Many advancements have come in the field of tourism and travel, like GPS Tracking and translation apps have become one big thing. Fairly newer technologies like Automated tip planners, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) have also become common. Use of travel apps is benefitting people a lot. Although all these changes are difficult to adapt as not everyone is quick in adaptation, hence these practices should be inculcated more.

Sustainable tourism dependency

When Mayal was asked if the sustainable tourism is dependent on the government, she replied, “Not exactly, but the policies, yes. I can’t suddenly get up and say, Goa is having over tourism. It’s the government which needs to decide if it’s over tourism, then they should tax it or they should do whatever they think is right.” Sustainable tourism should be promoted by all means, through marketing and social media.

Challenges and the way forward

The Indian tourism industry faces several challenges including high taxes, poor marketing and a need for better digital marketing methods. In the interview, Mayal stressed on educating small and medium enterprises (SMEs) about new destinations and digital technologies. TAAI continues to grapple with these problems by providing advice and assistance to its members in order to adapt to the changing environment. A major problem is the exorbitant taxes which makes traveling in India expensive most times. This can be done by implementing simplified and friendlier tax procedures that could attract more tourists into visiting India. There is need for re-working of marketing techniques to utilise digital media properly. This may be achieved through creating appealing content, virtual tours as well as working with influencers who can reach out globally for businesses.

About TAAI

The main aim of TAAI is to educate the travel agents and keep guiding them to do better business. The non-profit organisation helps small and medium-sized enterprises to become resilient and sustainable. The enterprises get a chance to meet other travel partners, right stakeholders and hoteliers, which can help their business. TAAI helps the enterprises to register on MSME and SME portals and guide them to collaborate with other countries to enhance India’s tourism sector. Both inbound and outbound tourism are talked about and are promoted.

Way ahead for young entrepreneurs in trade travel industry

Mayal encourages the youth to join the travel industry. She said, “I keep telling everyone, that you must join this industry, even if you have 1 percent inclination towards this industry. But you should always stay informed to the latest trends, technology, consumer behaviour, because that’s something that keeps evolving.” It is an industry where you need to keep informed. Competition would always be there, one must keep innovating and practices such as sustainability should be adapted. Life doesn’t happen without networking; hence one must network for enhanced marketing operations and customer experience.

As India continues to innovate and adapt, it is well on its way to becoming a top global travel destination, offering travellers a rich tapestry of experiences.