Most travellers prefer first class hotels.
The Indian traveller, infamous for carrying his daal, chawal and roti along with him, is finally experimenting with cuisine of the country he travels to.
A survey on habits of Indians going to Europe by Globus, a global escorted coach tour company, has revealed that Indians are warming up to foreign cuisine.
More and more people want to experiment with local food and go beyond bread and cheese. “Indians are famous for taking along their food overseas when touring. However, the survey indicates that this is changing.
Only 14% wanted to have all meals that were only Indian. As many as 66% respondents wanted a few meals included in the tour price, with the opportunity to sample local cuisine,” said Gauri Jayaram, regional director (South Asia and Middle East), Globus family of brands.
“This is an indication that the Indian traveller is maturing. Food is such an important part of a cultural experience and this shows the willingness of Indians to experiment and experience the destination for what it is. We offer only local/continental cuisine when it is included, and we have grown our market share by highlighting this as our USP,” she added.
The company surveyed 1,500 experienced travellers, of whom 65% were from metropolitan cities and 98% owned a car and were on at least one social networking site. “People on networking sites are more open to travel and cosmopolitan experiences,” a Globus official said.
The survey indicated that Indians love to splurge and 51% respondents said they prefer checking in to first-class or superior tourist hotels. “The choice of hotels was varied, with 49% preferring budget hotels and a tour price of less than $100 a day, 23% wanting at least first-class hotels, and the rest choosing superior tourist hotels,” the survey showed.
Sixty percent of the sample size voted for coach tours, while 32% first-timers wanted to travel to Europe on their own. Only 8% preferred river or ocean cruises, while 72% wanted a guide on a tour of Europe.
When Darshan Rathod, 26, director, Acumen Financial Consultancy vacations abroad, he likes to try local cuisine. Rather than eat at local Indian restaurants, he prefers whole wheat pasta in Italy or crepes when in France. “We get pasta or pizza in India, but the food in these places is more authentic,” he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}