However, wellness & fitness theme holidays
catching on with Indian vacationers
TripAdvisor® India, the world’s largest travel site, today
announced the results of its Health on Holiday survey conducted across 5800
respondents.
Mapping the holiday psyche of Indians, the survey reveals that people
are in the mood for excesses and unrestrained merrymaking on their vacation,
with holiday makers sleeping less, eating more junk food, as well as drinking and
smoking more.
At the same time 46% respondents acknowledged taking a vacation at a spa/detox/weight
loss resort or a yoga/meditation/Ayurveda retreat. This trend was complemented
by 49% respondents who also claimed to have taken an adventure/fitness holiday
focused on physical activities rather than relaxation.
Nikhil Ganju, Country
Manager, TripAdvisor India elucidates, “Our survey has revealed an interesting dichotomy in the behavior
of Indian travellers when it comes to health on holiday. While the survey points
to a growing awareness and adoption of wellness & fitness holidays; on a
regular vacation ‘indulgence’ still seems to be the agenda for most people.”
Throw
caution to the winds
ü 49% holiday goers sleep fewer
hours on holiday than they do at home
ü 60% travellers indulge more
on food and only 22% try to eat a healthier diet on vacation
ü 63% respondents agree their
consumption of junk food increases
ü Among those who enjoy their
tipple, 61% confessed to drinking more than usual on holiday. Only 39% managed
to exercise restraint, drinking the same or less than their usual habit.
However, Indians seem to be easy drinkers with the average alcoholic drinks for
60% respondents limited to 1-2 per day and only 34% indulging in 3+ drinks.
ü Cigarettes is a vice many
seem to have slightly better control on as one-third of the smokers reported smoking
same or lesser on holiday and only 28% puffing away more. A troubling trend here
is to see that among those who acknowledged smoking on holiday, 39% were
actually non-smokers who only light up on holiday.
Despite this
decadent and gluttonous agenda, surprisingly 81% said they feel refreshed and re energised following the holiday. The holiday self
indulgence could also be responsible for the worry about gaining weight on
holiday, which 53% respondents admit troubles them at least sometimes.
Spa Namoured
As if the rapid pace with which spas are
burgeoning across the country isn’t testament enough, our survey shows Indians
are getting hooked to the pampering experience - even on holiday.
ü 34% respondents
listed ‘booking spa treatments’ as one of the top things they do on holiday to
keep mentally/physically healthy
ü 42% respondents listed
availability of a spa as the second most
important thing to
influence their decision of choosing hotel / resort for vacation
ü 31% respondents said they have taken a
holiday at a spa resort
However, while a
large segment of holiday makers are well aware of the concept of wellness
vacations, most have yet to experience diverse wellness holiday options.
A good 61% respondents were familiar with the concept of wellness
holidays. However, when quizzed if they had taken a holiday to any of a range
of wellness resorts, apart from the 31% respondents who claimed to have visited
a spa resort on holiday, the response for other kind of wellness resorts was
low.
Yoga or Meditation Retreats
|
14%
|
Ayurveda Resort
|
15%
|
Detox and Weight loss resort
|
4%
|
To add to this, 54% said they had never visited any of these types of resorts
Top 3...
Things travellers do on holiday to keep
mentally/physically healthy
Play sport
|
41%
|
Play games (e.g. card
games)
|
35%
|
Book spa treatments (if
available)
|
34%
|
Things that influence decision of choosing hotel / resort for vacation
Swimming pool
|
67%
|
Spa
|
42%
|
Gymnasium
|
32%
|
Things that keep vacationers who sleep less
on holiday, up at night
Staying up late into the night spending time
with family/friends/spouse at the hotel.
|
67%
|
Dining till late into
the night
|
31%
|
Partying at a club/bar
till late into the night
|
28%
|
Ways in which vacationers who eat healthier
on holiday, keep their diet in check
Always order healthy food items from the
menu
|
77%
|
Avoid junk food
|
48%
|
Avoid street food
|
43%
|
Ailments vacationers are prepared to battle
with their medicine kit
Fever
|
86%
|
Cold
|
77%
|
Headache
|
76%
|
·
Only 17% respondents said they always purchased medical insurance for
self/family on holiday. 51% said they only buy it when they travel
internationally.
·
Only 30 % respondents said they are cautious to get a health check up
before an adventure/physically challenging holiday
·
79% respondents admitted to always carry a medicine kit on holiday.
