Love is universal. And so is Wanderlust. Travel transcends all boundaries – irrespective of who you are, where you’re from and what you do, one thing’s for sure – people love to travel. After putting plans on hold for the past two years, people across the world are set to celebrate love on their own terms. And travel seems to be a huge part of their V-Day plans. 

This Valentine’s Day, we at OYO celebrate the love of travel. To understand the world’s love for travel, we have rolled out the first edition of our global Valentine’s Day consumer index #LetLoveIn With Travel 2022. This survey covers respondents across India, the UK, USA, Indonesia, and Germany. 

From Paris topping charts as the most romantic destination that best fits the title of ‘Love is in the air’ across borders, Germans and Indians relishing a hot cup of tea while soaking in the sunrise, all the way to Americans are taking it easy (they’d rather catch up on sleep while on vacation), our report reveals interesting tidbits about the world’s love affair with travel. 

 

 

INDIA

A third of the respondents surveyed have already made travel plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Out of these, nearly 62% of respondents are looking to treat their loved ones to a quick getaway to a nearby destination. This was followed by a preference for road trips to scenic destinations. On the other hand, those who wanted to keep V-Day a low key affair by staying indoors, had a strong preference for watching movies and ordering in food. 

Travel is a huge part of bonding with your loved ones, be it a trip to Goa with friends, or heading to Manali with your folks. The world took this for granted until the pandemic pulled the brakes on travel plans. 2 out of 3 respondents said they appreciate vacations with loved ones more today than they did during pre-pandemic days. Indians don’t take their holidays for granted anymore. Nearly 38% respondents said they travel to spend quality time and share meaningful experiences with loved ones. This was followed by 26% who take to traveling for a break from the routine, whereas another 25% said they love exploring new places and cultures. A whopping 84% also believe that travel strengthens their relationships with loved ones. 

Every year, as the calendar turns to February, idyllic places take center stage in the imaginations of travelers around the world. Our customer survey shows that the majority of respondents in India are looking to spend the day by the beach in Goa, followed by the cozy hillside of Manali. The survey further reveals that experience has become the center stage to all travel plans across the globe. 

Here’s how Indian travellers are set to #LetLoveIn with travel!

• ‘Love is in the air’ – which city around the world best defines this statement? Indian respondents voted for none other than the ‘City of Love’ itself – Paris, followed by Goa and Kolkata
• Without a surprise, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is India’s favorite travel movie. Talk about spontaneous classic road trips making a comeback! Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani came in as a close second
• While on road trips, nearly 41% Indian respondents said they enjoy driving to the tunes of old bollywood songs. Indian Hip Hop or Punjabi music took the second spot on traveler’s road trip playlists
• Talk about sipping on your hot cup of chai while watching the sunrise. Yes, a majority of respondents said this was their go-to morning ritual while traveling. Indians also love going for an early morning walk or listening to music at the first sight of sunlight 
• Gifting is the ultimate love language. So what do Indians buy their loved ones from their holiday? 32% would buy clothes or accessories, while 22% said they would grab some local specialities for their loved ones back home
• India’s top international wishlist for V-Day? With 28% each, India remains divided picking between Paris and Maldives. Switzerland takes the third spot
• How can we talk about Valentine’s Day without dream proposals? Well well, 31% said they would prefer the question to be popped on a cruise during sunset in Goa. 18% said they would say yes while enjoying  snowfall at a homestay in Himachal Pradesh

GERMANY

In Germany, 1 in 2 respondents would love to spend Valentine’s Day by the beach. Out of all respondents, 70% preferred spending this day of love with their partners or spouse, followed by family. Similar to India, respondents in Germany also feel they appreciate traveling with loved ones more today compared to pre-pandemic days. 

When asked about which city describes the saying ‘Love is in the air’ the most, Germans voted for Paris (which also happens to be the country’s top travel wishlist for V-Day!), followed by Hamburg. With about 70% votes, 80s and 90s music tops charts as Germany’s top travel playlist, followed by Rock & Roll music. 

Sunrise and tea! What a combo, right? Nearly 71% of respondents in Germany love waking up to a hot cup of tea or coffee while watching the sunrise. Locally produced edibles or sweets make the perfect travel souvenirs for Germans. On the other hand, approx. 41% said they would like to receive a journey, a road trip or travel plans as a gift on Valentine’s Day. 

Doesn’t a picnic with champagne sound like a setting for the perfect dream proposal? Nearly 1/4th respondents do think it is! 24% would love this as their  dream proposal.

INDONESIA

Indonesia, without a doubt, is a country that just loves to travel. Over half the respondents – 54% – are all up for traveling on Valentine’s Day. Out of these, 57% respondents will spend Valentine’s Day taking trips to local destinations, while 41% will head on a roadtrip with their loved ones. The ones who’d rather spend V-Day at home prefer going out for a quiet lunch or dinner with their partners. 

25% of respondents opted for beaches as their preferred destination to spend Valentine’s Day. Beaches topped the charts as the most popular destinations.  Valentine’s Day seems to be the perfect excuse to head to the beach and catch the sunset. A large majority of respondents in Indonesia agree that they appreciate a chance to travel with loved ones more today than in the past. Out of these, 39% said they travel to spend quality time and share meaningful experiences with loved ones. Another 35% said travel helps them destress. 91% strongly believe that traveling is the best way to strengthen relationships with family, friends, and significant others. 

While India and Germany crown Paris as the city that best defines the saying ‘Love is in the air’, Indonesians take pride in their local breath-taking diversity. For a majority of surveyed Indonesians, Bandung, a city set amid volcanoes and tea plantations, also fondly known as the ‘Paris of Java’ best fits the description ‘Love is in the air’. This is followed by Jogja, Jakarta and Bali. 

When asked about their favorite travel movie, a majority of respondents voted the TV series ‘My trip my adventure’ as their top choice. Pop music emerged as Indonesia’s top music genre while traveling, followed by Indonesian and western classic songs. So, we have a consensus. No matter where you stay, watching the sunrise while sipping on tea and coffee is – hands down – the best morning ritual, while traveling for nearly 48% Indonesians, alongside Indians and Germans. 

How can we talk about Valentine’s Day without gifts? 40% Indonesians would like to buy their loved ones local souvenirs while on vacation, mainly local sweets or clothes and accessories. What’s more interesting? Beating cliched V-Day gifts like chocolates and jewelry, travel took the top spot as the perfect gift one would want to receive on Valentine’s Day. 1 in 2 Indonesians would love to be given a vacation or a trip with their loved ones.

Paris seems to be a hot favorite among all countries including Indonesia. 47% respondents in Indonesia wishlisted the French capital as their dream international destination for Valentine’s Day. Maldives and Switzerland took the second and third place respectively. 

Imagine your loved one popping the question ‘Will you marry me?’ on the beaches of Bali during the sunset? 36% of Indonesians said this is exactly what their dream proposal looked like. Some others said they would love to be proposed on a cold night in the tranquility of Lembang. 

USA & UK

A majority of the English said the best part about traveling is exploring new places. The English also said  ‘80s power ballads’ is their top choice of music genre while traveling. English tea and sunsets. Yes, even in the UK teas with sunsets top as the most loved morning ritual while traveling. Flowers and Chocolates take a backseat this Valentine’s Day. The British would rather go on a holiday together. Maldives has taken the top spot as the UK’s international travel wishlist this V-Day!

Americans are all set to celebrate Valentine’s Day soaking the sun at the beaches of Florida. ‘Spending quality time and sharing meaningful experiences with loved ones’ is America’s favorite reason to travel. About 10% of respondents associated Paris as the city that best defines ‘Love is in the air’. Paris is America’s top international wishlisted destination to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This was followed by Las Vegas, Rome and New York. When it comes to travel music, over 53% opted for Hip Hop music as their go to playlist. When it comes to morning rituals, 1/4th of American respondents were extremely clear that they would rather catch up on sleep while on vacation. Similar to other geographies, travel continues to remain America’s preferred Valentine’s gift over flowers, cards, and chocolates. 1 in 3 of the respondents would love their dream proposals to take place by the waves at Myrtle beach in South Carolina. Interestingly, similar to India, around 25% Americans also opted to share this special moment with their partners on a cruise during the sunset in sunny California.