Richard Touraine
Sometimes the onslaught of information creates a reason for us to collectively look one way when the real action is happening on the other side. It could have happened in the last 90 days, and it’s definitely a major demographic shift that will have a big impact on our industry.
This happened in 1969, the first country I visited alone. On that trip, I was struck by so many things, and there were enough things to make me feel that this destination was unique in its own right, and unlike any other travel destination.
I had booked a room in one of the nice hotels in the capital of the country. After a shocking taxi ride from the airport, I saw a man riding on an elephant at the entrance of the hotel, carrying only my bag. As I approached, the elephant bowed.
In the lobby, I saw two tables with about ten people sitting on each side. Each table had signs that said “Concierge,” “Restaurant Reservations,” and “Tour.” And behind each seated employee was a person standing at attention.
When I was checking in, I asked why there were almost 20 people just standing behind the seated people and no one doing anything but looking forward.
“Oh, they're backup staff, sir. They can sit in the chairs when higher-ups need to use the bathroom or take a quick lunch break.”
My second time in India is over.
In May, demographic “shifts” emerged in the form of new UN data, which said India’s population, now at 1.43 billion, would soon overtake China as the world’s most populous country. The UN stressed that the gap between the two countries would begin to widen significantly as India’s birth rate rises while China’s is declining.
The demographics of the age group are interesting. While one in six Chinese is over 60, only one in 10 Indians is over that age. As a result, China is facing a potentially severe labor shortage, while India will clearly claim to be home to the world’s largest potential labor force after the next round of studies are completed. Manufacturers who once rushed to China are now courting India and its dynamic, working-age population.
The Indian government has changed its approach to overpopulation. Indian citizens are no longer seen as mouths to feed, but as a labor force to run the economy.
No one knows how these changes will affect the number of outgoing and incoming tourists from India.
According to Booking.com, London, Paris, Dubai, Toronto and Amsterdam are the most popular destinations for Indian travelers. There are some safety concerns among Indian travelers in the US, which could affect the number of people traveling to the US.
72% of Indian travelers said they would use the money they saved during the pandemic to travel in the near future. Some of this pent-up demand will be domestic demand. According to the latest data, Indians are keen to visit the Himalayas to escape the increasing summer heat pattern. Bengaluru, Manali, Ooty and Srinagar are increasingly appearing on Indian search engines.
As the population grows, will customers still want to visit India? Perhaps a better question is, how much can you claim to have traveled to India if you have never been there?
Last month, Swiss company IQAir released its respected World Air Quality Report, and sadly, 39 of the 50 most polluted cities on Earth are in India.
If my client is considering visiting that country, I think it is important to discuss their health with their doctor and see if it is wise to go there. I don't know what effect breathing the world's most polluted air for a 10-day vacation will have on some of my elderly clients. I think it is a question that needs to be raised and is worth asking.
