Indian travellers are switching to ‘destination-working’ and so is the industry

Indians
have come to terms with remote working as the new normal and while there are a
million things that the pandemic crippled, including our work, it couldn’t kill the traveller in us. We did the best of both, travelling and
working. Don’t believe it? Here’s the proof.

A survey by Booking.com, a digital travel company, concluded that 63% of Indians, with an option of working remotely, are willing to do so from various destinations.

“Remote working is becoming a long-term reality, as health and safety is a top priority in the current environment. To break the monotony of working from home, travellers want to escape to a destination where they can easily blend leisure with business,” Ritu Mehrotra, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives at Booking.com, said.

According
to this survey, Indian travellers are second in the world after Thailand, where nearly
69% professionals favour destination quarantine while working.

While
it is a great opportunity for professionals to augment and explore their potential and productivity
at work, the destination working trend is also proving to be a great opportunity for the development of hospitality and travel industry.

How
travel industry is changing with this shift in work mode?

The survey
suggests that in an attempt to attract this new category of digital nomads, travel
platforms and destinations, including hotels and temporary spots are now prioritizing
home-office necessities like Wi-Fi availability, increasing demand for privacy,
cleanliness and longer stays among those travelling for business, requiring
alternative accommodations to facilitate the ‘work-friendly’ travelling.

“In response to this trend, Booking.com has introduced a work-friendly programme which offers work-friendly alternative accommodations like homes and apartments for both business and leisure travellers looking to work remotely.” Ritu added.

She also added that hospitality industry is constantly working on their cancellation policies and accommodation flexibility to suit the needs of working travellers, in case they plan to extend their stay.