Indian outbound travellers registered growth of 7% from Asian airports and 6% globally in 2017, with Swiss research firm m1nd-set predicting that the market will increase by another 8% – both in Asia and globally.

 

These are the findings of its latest report produced by the Business 1ntelligence Service (B1S) which forecasts India will progress from its third to a second-place ranking for travelling nationalities to Asian airports in 2018.

 

It further predicts that Indian travellers will also improve their ranking from sixth to the fifth highest travelling nation for airports globally. Those destinations that B1S believes will feel the benefits most in 2018 include Latin America and the Caribbean, which both have the lowest number of arrivals from India with less than 1% of the market.

 

LATAM AND CARIBBEAN SET TO BENEFIT?

Both destinations will benefit to the tune of +27% growth in Indian arrivals next year, while travel to the Middle East – the long-time largest destination for Indian travellers with 31% of the outbound market – will increase by around 4% next year.

 

 

TOP 5 DEPARTING AIRPORTS FOR INDIANS…

By contrast, B1S is predicting a ‘modest increase of 1%’ for Europe, while the African continent is expected to suffer ‘the most significant fall’, with a 24% decline over the next 12 months – while destinations in Asia Pacific are forecast to see a moderate decline of 4%.

 

The top five departing airports for Indian travellers are New Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai, Singapore and Chennai. As such, B1S expects Singapore to register an 11% fall in outbound travel by Indians over the next 12 months, while all other top five departure airports will see strong growth.

 

Here, B1S points to Delhi with a 7% rise in outbound travel from Indian travellers, while Mumbai will see 3%, although the strongest will be evident in Dubai, with 13% growth and Chennai with a 12% rise.

 

 

53% OF DUTY FREE SPEND IS PLANNED

In terms of shopper behaviour among Indian travellers, the B1S report reveals what to expect from the nationality’s sub-segments, based on m1nd-set’s signature customer segmentation model.

 

It says Indian travellers have a higher than average proportion of rational pre-planners, price sensitive shopping lovers and inspiration seekers compared to other Asian nationalities.

 

The B1S also reveals a ‘quasi-equal balance’ between planned and impulse shoppers among Indian travellers with 53% planning their duty free spend, compared to 47% buying on impulse.

 

 

SECOND LARGEST OUTBOUND MARKET AFTER CHINESE

m1nd-set CEO and Owner Peter Mohn comments: “Indians are the second-largest outbound market after China for destinations in Asia and so an important market to study, given the significant growth forecasts.

 

“This latest Indian traveller report has highlighted a number of interesting findings, both on the 2018 traffic forecasts and the shopper behaviour.

 

 

“We continue to see gifting as a key shopping motivator for Indian travellers, while the interest in seeking vouchers and special promotions is in decline, both compared to previous years and to other key travelling nationalities.”