India is now one of the fastest growing outbound tourism markets in the world, second only to China. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates that India will account for 50 million outbound tourists by 2020. Despite the slowdown due to rupee fluctuations, the Indian outbound numbers have been growing at an average annual growth rate of 10-12 percent over the last seven years.
A growing, consumption-driven economy, a large and increasingly affluent middle class, and the ongoing liberalization of air transportation have contributed significantly to this growth in international outbound travel. Additional interest in niche tourism sectors such as medical, wellness and adventure tourism has also contributed to this growth. There is a very strong reason to focus on India for its outbound tourism is another fact that the average Indian traveler spends $1,200 per visit as compared with Americans who spend about $700, and Brits who spend $500.
As travellers are getting increasingly enabled, with online booking sites and an abundance of destination information available online, it is imperative now, to think more actively on how to stay relevant to our travellers.
We at CoConnect believe that a great travel partner makes a perceptible enhancement to a memorable travel journey and travel partners are our greatest ally, particularly as online algorithms can never provide the personal connect the way they do, and that no matter how good an online site might appear for a traveller — objective, non-biased, solid information can only be provided by an agent with the requisite knowledge.
Traveling alone is an experience like none other. It allows you to enjoy a destination on your own terms – without the distractions or schedule of others. Solo travel is freeing, empowering, confident-building, an opportunity to become more self-aware & puts life into perspective.
It’s not only the pace of solo travel that differs so greatly from journeys with a companion. People traveling alone must also do the work that might otherwise have been shared: planning the trip, remembering the hotel room key, keeping track of addresses and hours, rescheduling when circumstances change. But for all the extra effort, there’s no one to disappoint if you get something wrong. You are on vacation—forgive yourself. Take a nap. Order a midday ice cream.
Solo travel at its best is deliciously self-indulgent: eat whatever and whenever you want, spend as long or as little as you like in a place, skip famous sights, sign up for the super cheesy. It’s a time where the only compromises you have to make are with yourself.
Those who travel alone often make themselves more available for local discovery and connection. Sometimes it’s intentional, other times it isn’t. By yourself, you may be more likely to try out those rusty language skills or strike up a conversation with a stranger. You’ll be surprised who you may meet. Exchange English-language novels with a Welsh couple staying in the same Corfu campground. Share a meal in Athens with a woman traveling from Korea and communicate by hand gestures and smiles: neither of you speaks the other’s, nor the local, language. Try something new.
Luxury travel is increasingly becoming harder to define, Highly subjective and constantly evolving, as it continues to adapt to the changes in our society, culture, and technology. For me, the idea of luxury travel is…
- – More about the experience, rather than just the appearance
- – Being able to fuel your needs in their entirety, whether physical, emotional, or intellectual
- – An appreciation for the finer things in life tempered with the hidden gems of a destination’s local culture
Luxury travel is about sanity, time and exceptional experiences. Regardless of destination or location, it is the warm, sincere and anticipatory service that differentiates a luxury travel experience. It is about unique experiences that can’t be easily replicated elsewhere. It’s less about facilities and amenities, more about the authenticity of the experience.
Luxury travel is experiencing destinations in inspirational, unprecedented ways on your terms. Truly luxurious travel provides experiences tailored to your personalized preferences, including what you desire, how you like it, where and when you want it. We each define, and re-define, luxury distinctly by our own desires, inclinations, and impulses. It’s indulgence and pleasure for some, while others seek comfort and ease.
