Skift India Report

Booking.com is looking at India for its growing outbound potential and spending power, even as it adapts to the last-minute booking behavior of these travelers.

Indian travelers are looking at social media for inspiration and technology for personalization as promotion channels shift. However, this means that industry players need to up their game to remain relevant.

India's inbound faces several struggles, some of which include the perception of lack of women safety and health hazard due to air pollution. Ground-level implementation of solutions to these problems is the first step to attract international tourists.

As India's outbound tourism increases, Singapore is looking to increase its share. However, it has now trained its eyes on high-yield travelers as well with its new focused partnership.

As Ibis India is on its way to meet its initial pipeline target, it is reluctant to move away from its micro markets-focused strategy. The fact that it does not require large land parcels for hotels lends further edge for expansion in land-strapped metros and Tier-1 markets.

As India's inbound tourism struggles, the government is working to develop global tourist-ready destinations. But nobody seems to be focusing on marketing these locations.

While India's share in domestic and global tourism is rising, it continues to face challenges in inbound tourism, sustainability, and geopolitics.

GoStops' successful Series A funding is an indicator of investor confidence in the growing popularity of alternative accommodations. As young Indians with focus on budget and unique experiences take over the travel scene in the country, GoStops has the potential to gain, provided it can keep up with rising competition.

With big competitors like Movenpick and Hampton by Hilton resorts, IHCL has clearly tried to set itself apart by going the branded apartment route.

While Indian carriers have a strong hold in the Indian market, Singapore-based low-cost carrier Scoot is counting on its robust network primarily in the Southeast Asian market and Indians' love for unique experiences to drive growth.