While Internet access in the country is relatively low compared to the SAMEA region, 67 per cent of Indian travellers that do have access to the Web have a tendency to use it more frequently for travel related tasks, said the survey by plastic card major MasterCard International.
A significant 39 per cent said the Internet was a key source of information in deciding where to travel, a much higher figure than the regional average of 10 per cent.
But increased use of Internet by travellers does not necessarily mean poor business for travel agents. The Master Index of Consumer Lifestyles survey said the outlook for Indian travel agents remains good as when it came to choosing a travel destination, 58 per cent of Indians still took the traditional route of approaching travel operators.
When it comes to booking air travel, 17 per cent of Indian travellers (against SAMEA average of 5 per cent) with Internet access preferred to book tickets online, while 57 per cent preferred to do it through a travel agent and 21 per cent purchased tickets directly from airlines.
"The frequent use of the Internet by Indian travellers demonstrates their willingness to embrace the benefits of new technology," Nitin Gupta, country general manager, MasterCard International said. Also, 42 per cent of Indians travelling abroad use credit cards, despite the country having a low level of ownership of such cards.
