India has emerged as the prime travel destination for GCC travellers according to Wego. Following leading MENA travel app and online marketplace Wego’s latest report, data shows a 40.71% YoY increase in searches for international flights to India during the first half of 2024. This surge highlights a growing interest across GCC travellers to explore India’s blend of cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and cost-effective travel options.
Key insights from Wego
The data shows that the top five sources of travellers come from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. Among these, Saudi Arabia stands out, accounting for a substantial 42% of all international searches to India. Notably, routes from Riyadh to both New Delhi and Lucknow have gained in popularity.
In addition to the top five sources, Bahrain has also shown notable travel interest, indicating its active travel connections with India. This underscores a broader trend of increasing mobility and travel between the GCC countries and India.
Seasonal travel trends
Coinciding with the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Wego reports a surge in flight searches to India during April and June 2024,. These festive periods see many travellers from the Middle East taking advantage of the long holidays to visit family, explore new destinations, or embark on religious pilgrimages. During these months, popular Indian destinations such as Kozhikode, New Delhi, Cochin, Lucknow, and Mumbai saw a marked increase in searches.
Top travel tips for GCC travellers
Given the high demand and fluctuating prices during the summer season, Wego has also shared essential travel tips to ensure a hassle-free and enjoyable summer holiday for GCC travellers. Here are some of the key takeaways:
Early planning and booking
To avoid high prices, unavailability and ultimately disappointment, it is crucial to plan and book flights, accommodations, tours and any ticketed events and attractions well in advance.
Check cancellation policies
With uncertainties surrounding travel, checking the cancellation policies of airlines and hotels is essential. Travel insurance is recommended to cover potential issues such as delays, cancellations, or lost luggage.
Explore budget-friendly options
Travellers can often save significantly by choosing early morning or red-eye flights. Budget airlines may also offer much cheaper fares, which can be worth the saving on shorter flights. Just make sure to review baggage policies and any additional fees.
Beat the airport rush
During peak travel seasons, airports can get crowded. Arriving early for security checks and utilising online check-in can help reduce stress. Keeping e-tickets handy on mobile devices can prevent misplacement of physical tickets and be one less thing to worry about.
