68 pct of Indian travellers prefer booking alternative accomodation on 2019

The concept of alternative accommodation is growing with most Indians wanting to opt for it this year as it is affordable and gives tourists an opportunity to explore destinations like locals, according to a study. A majority (68 per cent) of Indian travellers said they will be looking to book an alternative accommodation in 2019, compared to the global average of 37 per cent, according to a study by Booking.com.

Alternate accommodation includes home-stays, villas, apartments, farm-stays among others. Travellers are turning to alternative accommodation as a way of expressing their individuality as 66 per cent of Indians mentioned that they like statement accommodation that is unique so they can seem like a trend setter, it added.

The research was commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 53,492 respondents across 31 markets. The study revealed that living like a local is key for 65 per cent of Indians against 49 per cent global travellers, who believe that staying in a home-type accommodation lets them see areas of a city or parts of a country that they wouldn't have otherwise explored.

Further, it found that with 67 per cent of Indian travellers stating that staying in a home-type accommodation allows them to feel that they are getting the most value for their money compared to 45 per cent globally answer the same. The study also revealed that 26 per cent travellers globally like statement accommodation that is unique so they can be a trend setter, while in India 66 per cent of travellers share this desire to be different.

"Modern day Indian travellers' tastes are constantly evolving with the need to chase unique authenticate experiences. The trend is increasingly moving towards alternative types of accommodations that fuel their curiosity, immerse them in the local, and help them create travel memories," Booking.com Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Ritu Mehrotra said.