In rural India, rich people travel for education, poor for social reasons

In urban areas, 28% rich households travelled overnight during 2014-15

Most of the overnight trips (in the last 30 days) in rural areas were completed by rich households (monthly per capita income of Rs 1,800 and above) during 2014-15, according to this report on domestic tourism by the ministry of statistics and policy implementation.

In urban areas, 28% rich households ( monthly per capita income of Rs 3,600 and above) travelled overnight during 2014-15.

Rich households travel mainly for education and business. In rural areas, 35% households travelled for education followed by 35% households that travelled for business purposes.

In urban areas, 47% households travelled for education followed by 41% households for business purposes.

Among travels undertaken by poor income level households, most were for social occasions like marriages and other festivities with 15% followed by business (14%).

In urban areas, most poor households also travelled for social occasions with 14% followed by religion and pilgrimage (13%).

Source: Ministry of Statistics and Policy Implementation

(Salve is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)