2011: Destination Rewind

Back in the day, an “outing” usually involved packing parathas and pickle for a picnic at India Gate. Today, the party’s moved to catching a flight to destinations far and away. A romantic rendezvous or family fun, Indians are taking to the friendly skies more than ever to get somewhere.

In 2011, Indian travelers ditched the been-there-done-that routine for something off the beaten path. Kashmir and Ladakh topped the list for MakeMyTrip customers. Going further, new entrants were Northeast India and Andaman Islands. The year also saw Goa losing its longstanding leadership position and moving down to number three.

Foreign shores also welcomed the Indian traveler in 2011. The floods in Thailand didn’t deter the crowd. Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket were the favored destination choices. Flying half way across the world also didn’t seem to be too much of a task as the US also found a place on the list. Family holiday destinations like Singapore and Hong Kong remained the favorites for summer holidays.

Interestingly enough, romance and outdoor adventure were on the top of every Indian traveler’s mind in 2011. MakeMyTrip customers asked us where they could go honeymooning, rafting and parasailing. “Viewing Taj by Moonlight” ranked especially high on the list.

The Indian traveler has clearly evolved and the holiday destination choices of 2011 were testimony of that. We hope the new year will bring with it a greater appetite for exploring destinations across the globe. After all, there’s so much to see and do and 365 days in a year just don’t seem enough!