MUMBAI: A latest online survey of bus travellers show that 46% of the respondents preferred a trip to the mountains, followed by beaches at 28%. Air-conditioned buses are also making a comeback with their preference levels going up to 50%, compared to 39% in June last year, the survey showed.
The survey, conducted by redBus, an online bus ticketing platform, further stated that When it comes to religious travel, Tirupati (26%) and Shirdi (12%) are the most popular pilgrimage destinations followed by Madurai, Nashik and Varanasi.
“Preference for business and leisure trips has gone up, compared to pre-Covidperiod,” it stated. “The survey shows intent for higher frequency of travel over the next 3-6 months, with 48% of the respondents seeking to travel at least once a month after 3-6 months, taking the travel intent back to pre-Covidlevels when it was around 47%.”
With intercity travel gradually inching back to its pre-Covidlevels, the most important factors for outstation travel apart from safety/hygiene, according to respondents are Having a comfortable journey; Reliable schedules and punctuality; and Travel cost, the survey mentioned. “A behavioural shift that has been evident post-Covidis the preference for online bus booking going up. This was evident in the survey with 95% of respondents mentioning that they would prefer to book their bus tickets online now,” it said.
The major advantages associated with online booking according to the respondents are: Selecting a seat of their own choice on the bus; Convenience of booking anytime/anywhere; Wide range of bus operators to choose from and Avoiding long queues/unnecessary exposure at bus depots.
Commenting on the data from the survey, Prakash Sangam, CEO, redBus, stated, “Results from this survey have not only provided a unique insight into the bubbling demand for travel in India, but also reaffirmed the notion that the industry’s strong comeback is set to move into a higher gear in the months ahead. A majority of the people now prefer to book bus tickets online as travellers take advantage and stick to the habit of transacting online from the comfort of their homes.”