Indians are turning into impulsive pilgrims: OYO survey

A survey conducted by OYO, India's largest hospitality company has revealed that travel aspirations and technology adoption have turned Indians into impulsive pilgrims.

'Connected Pilgrims Survey', conducted by OYO brought to light that, a growing number of Indian travellers are now seeking a holistic experience when they travel to destinations traditionally known for their religious symbolism. They look for more experiences to club with their pilgrimage and to optimize their travel.

The survey was conducted across 11 cities; Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Patna, Bengaluru, Chennai, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata through a detailed in-person interaction with 1700 respondents.

"Travel to religious destinations is among the largest segment of the domestic travel business. In the last few years, these destinations have seen a resurgence, particularly as young people visit them for the range of experiences they offer - such as arts and craft in Pushkar, rafting adventures in Rishikesh, culinary delights of Amritsar," said Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO, OYO.

"We have found that Indian travellers are looking for a holistic experience when they travel, even to religious destinations. These "pragmatic pilgrims", often travel as family-group spanning different age-groups, and therefore, look for a variety of experiences. Those travelling with friends of the same age-group also often look for interest-based activities to make the holiday memorable," he added.

The survey also revealed that the impulse to travel to pilgrimage destinations is becoming popular in India. Moreover, 65 percent respondents suggested they would visit a site of religious prominence for reasons beyond spirituality or religion.

Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity was also an important factor to determine the choice of accommodation for travellers.