NEW DELHI: Retreating to a remote location, natural environment or wilderness or exploring an upcoming tourism destination with limited infrastructure are the preferred choices of Indian adventure travelers.
Sports or physical activity-based holiday was the third preference, a recent survey on evolving trends and preferences of the Indian traveler has found.
Most popular adventure activities among Indians ranged from camping and para-gliding to bungee jumping, sky diving and scuba diving, the Adventure Travel Survey conducted by travel portal TripAdvisor said.
Asked about what kind of holiday experiences they considered as adventure travel, about 77 per cent respondents said a retreat to a natural environment or remote location or wilderness qualified as adventure travel for them.
About 44 per cent believed that exploring an upcoming tourist destination with limited infrastructure would be an adventurous holiday while 36 per cent said a sports or physical activity-based holiday was adventure for them, the study said.
Asked about the primary reasons for love about adventure activities, a majority of the respondents – about 58 per cent – said it was their love for varied life experiences.
About 35 per cent agreed it was a sense of achievement or accomplishment and same percentage of Indians cited thrill, excitement and a sense of risk as the reason that drew them to adventurous activities.
About 47 per cent said they pre-planned their adventure activities, while 37 per cent agreed that such activities are spontaneous decisions when they are on holidays.
Interestingly, friends emerged as the ‘first and foremost choice’ as companions for adventure travel, with 72 per cent respondents choosing them over their spouses, who were the next preference with 47 per cent respondents wanting to pursue adventure activities with their better halves.
With adventure travel coming at a heavy price, high cost is a deterrent for many travelers. About 60 per cent respondents said they had changed their mind and backed out of an adventure activity as it was too expensive.
A hot air balloon ride in Masai Mara, Serengeti in Kenya or Luxor, Egypt may cost up to Rs 20,000 or more.
For the same experience in Jaipur and Ranthambore, one has to shell out Rs 10,000 for an hour in the skies.
Similarly, skydiving in Dubai may leave your wallet lighter by Rs 25,000 or more, which is not different from what one may pay for the sport at Aamby Valley in Maharashtra.
The survey also found lack of faith in Indian operators or instructors organizing risky adventure activities.
Around 51 per cent respondents clearly refused to indulge in adventure activities which involved an element of risk, either in India or even managed by Indian instructors in a foreign country.
The top two reasons travelers seem to think of India and Indian operators as unsafe bets for such activities were poor quality or maintenance of equipment and overall low standards of safety.
“The Adventure Travel Survey clearly demonstrates the Indian traveler’s enthusiasm to add a dose of adventure to their holidays.
“About 53 per cent of survey respondents claimed to be planning a holiday with the primary purpose of participating in an adventure activity or sport within the next six months,” said Nikhil Ganju, Country Manager, TripAdvisor India.
The top five destinations travelers said they would consider for adventure activities in India are Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Leh and Ladakh, Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and Andaman and Nicobar islands, while New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Switzerland and Spain were preferred as international destinations. -PTI
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