The Hindu Business Line : Singapore most preferred travel destination

Hyderabad, Sept. 18 Singapore continues to be the top most common travel destination for Indians, according to a study by Nielsen Outbound Travel Monitor.

About 24 per cent of the out-bound travellers in the next 12 months are likely to go to the island nation. This would be followed by Dubai, Australia, and Malaysia, with each of this contributing 17 per cent .

“A consumption-driven economy coupled with a population keen to explore the world, India is well positioned for a booming travel and tourism industry,” said Ms Vatsala Pant, Associate Director of Nielsen company.

Taking part in the Nielsen India Outbound Travel Monitor 2008 conducted recently at the PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) here, he said the survey revealed that an average Indian traveller spent $1,789 every time they went on a leisure trip.

Other than travel and accommodation, Indians spent mostly on globally known branded goods.

“Asian countries are their most popular destinations for Indians. Other regions such as Europe attract a greater percentage (18 per cent) of Indian travellers for business rather than pleasure (14 per cent).

However, conventional channels remained popular when it came to holiday bookings. While 12 per cent of the travellers took to online travel agents, a majority of them still went to their regular travel agents or tour operators.

The survey conducted interviews with 2,000 people who travelled abroad in the last 12 months and stayed at least two nights away from home.

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