Saudi Arabia Leads GCC Travel Growth To India

Wego, the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) revealed the growing travel interest to India in the first half of 2024.

Wego’s data from January to June 2024 showed a 40.71% YoY increase in searches for international flights to India. International flight searches to India on Wego have been steadily growing in the past few years. This year’s inbound flight searches have even outpaced the pre-pandemic numbers of the same period in 2019.

The data for the first half of 2024 on Wego’s platform revealed significant travel interest to India from various regions, particularly the GCC countries. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman emerged as the top five sources of travelers. This trend highlights the strong cultural and economic ties between India and these Gulf nations.

Following the GCC countries, Bahrain also showed notable travel interest, indicating its active travel connections with India. Additionally, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Thailand were among the top ten countries of origin for travelers to India.

Bernard Corraya, General Manager of Wego India office, said: “The findings suggest a dynamic travel landscape where India remains a key destination for both leisure and business travelers from across the globe, driven by various factors such as tourism, business ventures, and familial connections.”

Notably, Wego observed a significant surge in flight searches to India during April and June 2024. These months align with the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. During these festive periods, many travelers in the Middle East take advantage of the long holidays to visit family, explore new destinations, or embark on religious pilgrimages.

This rise in international travelers searching for India on Wego is creating a golden opportunity for Indian travel companies. Hotels, tour operators and local experience providers can now reach a much larger audience of international visitors looking for a taste of India’s unique culture. Wego’s user-friendly platform, especially on mobile devices, makes it easy for travelers to discover and book the Indian adventure of their dreams.

Wego’s data further revealed that searches from Saudi Arabia accounted for a substantial 42% of all international searches to India, highlighting the strong travel demand between the two nations.

Among these, the routes from Riyadh to New Delhi and Riyadh to Lucknow emerged as particularly popular. This indicates a significant interest from Saudi travelers in both major metropolitan areas and culturally significant cities in India.

Coinciding with the surge in searches during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Wego also observed a rise in flight searches to popular Indian destinations like Kozhikode, New Delhi, Cochin, Lucknow, and Mumbai during April and June 2024. This period also coincides with the summer school breaks in the GCC countries, making it a prime time for families to travel together.