Mumbai and Dubai emerged top searches for travel destinations and visa-free travel like Almaty and Kenya became traveler favorites in 2024, a fintech firm One97 Communications -- owner of the Paytm brand said on Thursday.
According to the report 'Travelpanti 2024' released by Paytm, travel for concerts saw an incredible rise with bookings surging 44 per cent in 2024 and younger generations opting for budget-friendly travel modes such as buses.
"Throughout the year, Mumbai and Dubai emerged as the most searched destinations with a love for bustlings city life and luxurious getaways. The desire to travel affordably featured among younger generations, with 36% of bus bookings coming from travelers under the age of 25, the report said.
According to the report, Paytm user bus bookings went through a peak around Chhath Puja while train bookings saw an absolute surge over the Holi weekend.".
"The longest railway station name booked was Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta in Andhra Pradesh, while the shortest was IB in Odisha," the report said.
Paytm's travel trend suggests that nearly 30 percent of bookings were made after 8 pm, pointing to a trend of last-minute late-night travel planning.
"Independence Day also saw maximum bookings on the same day, as passengers were found to be embracing freedom in the skies. Offbeat locations also gained popularity, as many booked their tickets to places such as Antananarivo, Madagascar, and Lakshadweep. The 15 long weekends of the year added further fuel to the wanderlust, and travel volumes showed a significant increase in travel across domestic and international destinations," the report added.
Paytm noticed that pilgrimages became popular among young travelers, and Tirupati emerged as the most-booked spiritual destination of the year.
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