INDIAN WOMEN ASSERTIVE IN TRAVEL

More and more Indian women are becoming assertive while making travel plans as a whopping 75 per cent of the respondents said they were equally involved while charting a trip, according to a recent survey. "About 50 per cent Asian women travellers say they make all travel decisions themselves while 46 per cent include their significant other (spouse or partner) in the travel planning process," according to a survey by TripAdvisor that highlights how women across Asia plan their holidays. "Only 32 per cent Indian women travellers make all the travel decisions themselves, but they are increasingly voicing their opinion with 75 per cent taking equal ownership of planning the trip," it said. The findings, launched in conjunction with International Women's Day, are based on responses from over 2,800 female travellers across seven Asian countries, including India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Japan. The survey found that overall 68 per cent Asian and 63 per cent Indian women travellers feel their travels have helped them learn more about the world while 33 per cent Asian and 36 per cent Indian female travellers say travel has changed the way they think and live their lives. Indian women travellers further feel that their travels have made them more confident (46 per cent) and more open to learning and trying new things (57 per cent), it said. Further, the survey found that Indian women travellers feel travel has had a positive impact on their lives, with 69 per cent saying travel makes them feel relaxed and 58 per cent saying it inspired them. The survey also found that 83 per cent Asian women travellers contributed financially, either fully or partially, to their last personal trip, of which 27 per cent said they funded the entire holiday (including for their travel companions), while 32 per cent shared the cost with their spouse or partner. On same parameters, 60 per cent Indian women travellers contributed financially, either fully or partially, to their last personal trip, of which 18 per cent funded the entire holiday themselves, including for their travel companions, it said. About 35 per cent said they shared the cost with their partner, whereas 16 per cent paid for their portion of the trip with their family or friends, it said. 

Despite this apparent financial independence, Asian women travellers are deal-hunters at heart and are most swayed by deals or low prices (78 per cent Asian and 72 per cent Indian), the TripAdvisor survey said. The survey found that 72 per cent Indian women have voted for 'nature', followed by learning about a new place and its people (71 per cent), and only 24 per cent chose shopping as a key influencer while planning a trip. Commenting on the findings, TripAdvisor India Country Manager Nikhil Ganju said, "It's great to see Indian women taking charge of their travel process across all spheres - from planning and booking to purchasing their holiday. In terms of what influences their holiday, while majority (72 per cent) have voted for 'nature', what's surprising is that only 24 per cent are influenced by good old 'shopping'." The top destinations Asian women travellers plan to travel to in 2016 are all near home, like Japan, Thailand and Australia, while the US is top choice for long-haul travel. For Indian women, top destinations in 2016 are India (23 per cent), the US (20 per cent) and the UK (14 per cent).