They want to break free: Why and how ‘revenge travel’ swept the country 

Revenge travel is a unique trend that has emerged during the pandemic era. While travel was completely suspended during the initial days of the outbreak, restrictions were eventually phased out, enabling travellers to visit certain destinations, which led to many jumping at the first opportunity for a hilltop or beachside getaway.

Sure enough, social media was stormed by images of tourists erupting in huge numbers in popular destinations including Shimla, Manali, and Goa. Videos of tourists flouting protocol and ditching masks went viral, even as many others exercised caution at home. The dilemma -- to travel or not to travel -- was very real. According to Agoda's Indiagenous Travel Survey 2021, 79% of urban Indian adults have visited between two to ten states in the past year. Major motivations to travel include scenery (68%), food (50%) and arts and culture (43%).

"Traveling is a source of relaxation and rejuvenation for many of us, for others it is also a source of inspiration, and finding an outlet from routine lives," says consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Ruhi Satija. The abrupt halt of travel and absence of positive feelings associated with future travels left many struggling. "It felt as if all my plans disappeared in an instant. Not knowing when I'll be able to travel next led to feelings of helplessness and eventually hopelessness," shares 21-year-old Trisha Gupta whose 2020 summer travel plans got canned.

There is a growing body of research that suggests how travel positively impacts our mental well-being. "People were confined to their homes and restricted to a certain lifestyle where it gave them an overwhelming feeling of not being able to have control over their lives. It is not surprising that people are choosing to revenge-travel for the sake of mental release, having a sense of autonomy and control over their life. Traveling also helps in boosting creativity and a general sense of well-being," explains Satija.

"There is no doubt that things got more difficult when you couldn't just pack up and leave, or take that break you know you need. Especially with the year being so difficult and work-from-home taking a toll on everyone, not being able to travel felt suffocating very soon," shares travel enthusiast Pooja Pendse. When restrictions were relaxed, the Mumbai native took off to South Goa for a month-long work-cation in October 2021.

"International travel wasn't an option anymore unless one was willing to undergo the taxing process involving Covid-19 testing, quarantine, and a long flight. I realised I would rather explore destinations closer to home where I felt safer. Due to the paucity of options, the same domestic destinations seemed a lot more appealing, which is why even a quick two-day weekend trip would have me drooling. Taking that trip to Goa was a really great experience because I hadn't ever taken a work-cation before. It was nice to have a routine that was different from my everyday life, because even though there was work, there were also equal amounts of fun and new experiences," adds Pendse.

Revenge travel or a need to break away after a prolonged period of staying at home may be the overarching motivation, but the nature of travel has also undergone a huge change during the pandemic. "Travel is an innate need, as is seeking out new experiences and the desire to connect with people. In the wake of the pandemic, we're seeing fundamental shifts in the way many people are thinking about how they live, work, and travel and the lines between each are increasingly blurring," shares Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager - Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. "Many travellers are embracing off-the-beaten-path destinations and beautiful locales once overlooked by typical travel guidebooks. We're not only seeing increased enthusiasm for longer-term stays - we're also seeing many people completely untether themselves and live life as digital nomads."

The rise of the ‘conscious traveller' is increasingly presenting an opportunity for travel beyond the beaten track. New research and analysis by Economist Impact (commissioned by Airbnb) shows that an overwhelming 79% of Indian travellers want to travel in ways that positively benefit local communities both economically and socially. The research also suggests that 69% of travellers are willing to pay a premium for an experience that supports sustainable tourism practices.

Speaking about the destinations in vogue, Bajaj adds, "Pent-up demand to travel has resulted in an increase in travel. With the upcoming holiday season, we're seeing a strong desire among Indian travellers to visit the destinations that are a drive away from key metros such as New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. We also see a surge in searches for destinations in the northern hills such as Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie, and Mukteshwar as Indians look to idyllic winter getaways. Goa continues to be a preferred destination at this time of year - offering its lovely palms and beaches to Christmas and New Year revellers."

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