Europe calling: Indians plan to sleigh through the Alps this Christmas
Indians are flocking to European destinations this holiday season, with a surge in searches for winter activities like skiing and snowboarding. Millennials and working professionals are seeking unique experiences, driving interest in emerging des...
By Anumeha Chaturvedi, ET Bureau | Updated:
Where are Indians headed this holiday season? Travel companies say egged on by social media posts, and their own wanderlust, Indians are set to travel in full force, with domestic travel searches up 40-100% for some companies compared to the same period last year.
High on popularity charts is winter travel to European destinations with Thomas Cook and SOTC seeing a 50-60% increase in business for winter tours this year.
“Consumers are displaying a keen appetite for ice and outdoor snow experiences including skiing, snowshoe trekking, crab fishing safaris, snowboarding and snowmobiling across Europe’s Alpine regions of Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany,” said Rajeev Kale, president and country head for holidays, MICE and Visa, Thomas Cook (India).
“We have launched winter experiences such as ice bathing in Sweden’s Uppsala and Fjällnora; Norway’s Tjuvholmen and Svalbard, besides trips to France’s Strasbourg, the ‘Capital of Christmas’ that offers magical Christmas markets and unique local experiences,” he added.
On MakeMyTrip, searches for Europe’s snowcapped regions such as Switzerland, Austria, France and Germany are up 27% year on year. “There is a growing intent to explore international destinations, amplified by social media influencers and a greater willingness to allocate disposable incomes towards enriching travel experiences,” said MakeMyTrip co-founder and group CEO Rajesh Magow.
Romit Theophilus, director for India at German National Tourist Office said there has been an increase in winter travel from India to Europe, including Germany, ahead of the holiday season.
“Indian travelers are particularly drawn to Germany’s Christmas markets and winter festivities, which are gaining popularity due to their unique cultural charm," he added.
On Booking.com, UAE, Thailand and UK are among the top three most searched countries for year end holidays, witnessing a 100%, 70% and 35% increase in year on year searches, said Santosh Kumar, country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com. “Our data reveals that overall domestic travel searches are experiencing an increase of 40-100% compared to the same period last year,” he added. On Agoda, EU travel has seen a 22% uptick in accommodation searches from India.
Sabina Chopra, COO of corporate travel at Yatra Online said the travel trends for year-end bookings and next year indicate a shift in focus towards Europe, with destinations like Greece, Norway, and Switzerland gaining popularity among Indian travellers.
Pickyourtrail is also seeing a noticeable rise in travel to colder destinations which now account for 22.72% of the total travel, said co-founder Hari Ganapathy. On Cleartrip, the top domestic destinations for year end travel include Udaipur, Jaipur, Varanasi, Manali, Amritsar, Ooty, Munnar, Mussoorie, and Pondicherry, said Anuj Rathi, chief business and growth officer.
“Year on year bookings have seen a significant increase for Bali (2.6x), Phuket (2.3x), Abu Dhabi (1.6x) and Vietnam (1.3x). Manila (2.5x) and Tbilisi (1.7x) are emerging as popular international destinations for year end travel,” he added.
Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Airbnb’s general manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Airbnb said group travel remains a favourite, with Indian searches averaging four guests, highlighting a focus on family-friendly destinations like Goa, Varkala, and Vrindavan, known for their blend of relaxation, culture, and spirituality.
As per RateGain, the standout destinations among Indian travellers include Baku, Langkawi and Copenhagen.
Closer to home, leading destinations with a 2x rise in bookings include Amritsar, Varanasi, Srinagar, Mahabaleshwar and Udaipur.
High on popularity charts is winter travel to European destinations with Thomas Cook and SOTC seeing a 50-60% increase in business for winter tours this year.
“Consumers are displaying a keen appetite for ice and outdoor snow experiences including skiing, snowshoe trekking, crab fishing safaris, snowboarding and snowmobiling across Europe’s Alpine regions of Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany,” said Rajeev Kale, president and country head for holidays, MICE and Visa, Thomas Cook (India).
“We have launched winter experiences such as ice bathing in Sweden’s Uppsala and Fjällnora; Norway’s Tjuvholmen and Svalbard, besides trips to France’s Strasbourg, the ‘Capital of Christmas’ that offers magical Christmas markets and unique local experiences,” he added.
While much of Europe is known for its cold winters, there are several destinations where the weather remains mild and pleasant, making them ideal for a winter escape.
Here are 15 warm winter destinations in Europe that offer sunshine, culture, and relaxation during the colder months.
On MakeMyTrip, searches for Europe’s snowcapped regions such as Switzerland, Austria, France and Germany are up 27% year on year. “There is a growing intent to explore international destinations, amplified by social media influencers and a greater willingness to allocate disposable incomes towards enriching travel experiences,” said MakeMyTrip co-founder and group CEO Rajesh Magow.
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India’s millennials and working professionals are leveraging their balance year-end leaves and opting for 'unique' winter tours in Europe that offer experiences like ice skating, tobogganing, and glacier sledding, said SD Nandakumar, president and country head for holidays and corporate tours at SOTC Travel. “In addition to Western Europe favourites like Switzerland, France, and Scandinavia, we have added emerging winter destinations like Georgia, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and the Alpine route in Japan,” he added.Romit Theophilus, director for India at German National Tourist Office said there has been an increase in winter travel from India to Europe, including Germany, ahead of the holiday season.
“Indian travelers are particularly drawn to Germany’s Christmas markets and winter festivities, which are gaining popularity due to their unique cultural charm," he added.
On Booking.com, UAE, Thailand and UK are among the top three most searched countries for year end holidays, witnessing a 100%, 70% and 35% increase in year on year searches, said Santosh Kumar, country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com. “Our data reveals that overall domestic travel searches are experiencing an increase of 40-100% compared to the same period last year,” he added. On Agoda, EU travel has seen a 22% uptick in accommodation searches from India.
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Sabina Chopra, COO of corporate travel at Yatra Online said the travel trends for year-end bookings and next year indicate a shift in focus towards Europe, with destinations like Greece, Norway, and Switzerland gaining popularity among Indian travellers.
Pickyourtrail is also seeing a noticeable rise in travel to colder destinations which now account for 22.72% of the total travel, said co-founder Hari Ganapathy. On Cleartrip, the top domestic destinations for year end travel include Udaipur, Jaipur, Varanasi, Manali, Amritsar, Ooty, Munnar, Mussoorie, and Pondicherry, said Anuj Rathi, chief business and growth officer.
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“Year on year bookings have seen a significant increase for Bali (2.6x), Phuket (2.3x), Abu Dhabi (1.6x) and Vietnam (1.3x). Manila (2.5x) and Tbilisi (1.7x) are emerging as popular international destinations for year end travel,” he added.
Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Airbnb’s general manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Airbnb said group travel remains a favourite, with Indian searches averaging four guests, highlighting a focus on family-friendly destinations like Goa, Varkala, and Vrindavan, known for their blend of relaxation, culture, and spirituality.
As per RateGain, the standout destinations among Indian travellers include Baku, Langkawi and Copenhagen.
Closer to home, leading destinations with a 2x rise in bookings include Amritsar, Varanasi, Srinagar, Mahabaleshwar and Udaipur.
The festive season is illuminated by dazzling Christmas light displays worldwide. Here are the top destinations to experience the magic, along with travel tips for Indian travelers.
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