Indian travellers hesitate to explore new destinations, says survey

Many Indian travellers hesitate to explore new destinations and experiences even when they are keen to do so, as per a survey.

"Indian travellers are keen to push their limits and seek out the new yet are being held back by language barriers and niggling anxiety. About 21 per cent Indian travellers faced language barriers during their recent travel exposing surprising gaps between their travel ambitions and reality, according to a survey by online travel platform Booking.com.

A research sponsored by Booking.com and independently conducted among 20,500 adults, who have taken a trip in the last 12 months or plan to do so in next 12 months.

The survey was done in 28 countries like Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China, Brazil, India, the US, the UK, Russia, Indonesia and Columbia, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Croatia, Taiwan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore and Israel in in March this year.

More than eight in 10 travellers have made travel mistakes, like getting lost and misunderstanding directions, mispronouncing a world in the local language and misunderstanding what was ordered in a restaurant, the survey revealed.

It also revealed that there is a strong desire to be a limitless traveller with two in five Indian aspiring to be one and over three quarters want to no regrets with their travel experience.

The survey said that about 50 per cent Indians felt they will be able to overcome with their travel anxieties with great accommodation options, while 41 per cent said positive reviews from others would help.

About 30 per cent felt being able to ask questions in the local language would relieve their anxieties while 36 per cent would love to order their favourite food in local language, it added.