IRL dating is back: Indians want to explore a new place or an activity for an in-person date

After two years of meeting people online and dating virtually, it looks like singles in India are ready to get back to face-to-face dates. 46% of daters on Bumble in India would prefer to go on in-person dates after work or classes. In fact, more than 65% of daters surveyed claim they now prefer to go on an in-person date with their potential matches or partners over only virtual dates. Furthermore, with more people planning their IRL dates around their newly acquired skills or hobbies, ‘hobby dates’ has also emerged as one of the dating trends to look forward to in 2022.

Post-work dates are top of the list. Returning to workplaces and colleges has shifted people’s interest in IRL dating in India. 46% of daters on Bumble would prefer to go on in-person dates after work or classes. In-person dates are preferred more by GenZ (50%) compared to Millennials (42%). When deciding on in-person dates, a majority of daters (51%) prefer to make spontaneous decisions together while one in four daters prefer letting their potential match or partner decide how to plan an in-person date.

Best First IRL date ideas:
Be it selecting a newly opened restaurant in the neighbourhood to eat out, going to pottery classes together on weekends, or exploring an adventurous date to go hiking together–daters in India are choosing different experiences to get to know their online connections on first IRL dates.

• 77% of daters prefer eating out while 59% of them prefer going out for drinks.
• Adventurous dates are preferred by 35% of singles.
• While 75% of singles in India have picked up new hobbies and skills during the pandemic, 30% prefer hobby or skill-based activities.
• Exploring a new place or an activity is the biggest factor a majority of (61%) of daters consider when planning to go on an IRL date.
• For women, the level of effort taken by their potential match or partner to plan a date (51%) is the most important factor they consider before agreeing to go on an IRL date.

The study also revealed the kind of conversations daters are interested in on their first IRL dates:

- 86% of daters love to have conversations around shared passions and hobbies on their first in-person date
- 66% of daters prefer to have conversations around their work or profession, on their first in-person date
- 70% of daters want to have conversations around their travel adventures (places they have visited and hope to visit) on their first in-person date
- 61% of daters enjoy conversations about childhood stories and memories on their first in-person date
- 49% of daters also like to have conversations about their friends and family on their first in-person date
- 25% of daters are keen to have conversations around topical issues (current affairs, politics) on their first in-person date.