81 % of Indian MSN Users Browse Travel-Related Info

Based on a research conducted by Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions Online Travel Survey, Indians browse and surf the net for leisure and travel related information reports Television Point.

Between November 2006 and April 2007, 7,000 MSN and Windows Live users in 10 Asia-Pacific nations, including India were surveyed. Also, seven out of 10 Asians found it helpful to make online travel bookings.

Other Interesting points include:

1. Online travel spending: Australians and Koreans scored high—having spent up to $2,200 on their last leisure trip. Thais spend the least, at $700. On an average, Indians spent $1,300 on their last leisure trip booked online and $1,600 on their last business trip. The average amount spent by MSN and Windows Live users in India on the last purchase or reservation was $1,300 for leisure trips and $1,600 for business trips.
2. In India, travel trips are planned six weeks in advance and purchases made four weeks ahead of a trip. According to the survey, over the past year, air tickets (48%) and hotel reservations (22%) ranked as the most purchased items online for users in India.
3. The survey also found that internet users in India enjoy sharing their travel experience online through photo albums, email, instant messaging, and blogs. Of all survey respondents who plan their travels online, 73% in India do so from home at a time during when they are also checking email, chatting with friends, and sharing photos.
4. 7 out of every 10 users prize the internet for its depth of information on travel products and services and agree that making travel reservations online is convenient and hassle free.
5. Other trends: 91 per cent of the Indians surveyed claimed they were the key decision makers for their family travel plans. 73 per cent of them do their travel planning online from home, while two-fifths do so from work. They also expressed their interest in sharing their travel experiences online through photo albums, e-mail, instant messaging and blogs.

Jaspreet Bindra, country manager, online services group, Microsoft India commented, “The explosion of Internet connectivity in Asia has had a dramatic effect on how people conduct day to day business, communicate with friends and family, and on how they plan for their holidays and make travel purchases. The results of this survey demonstrate the power of online advertising to reach consumers where they are making key purchase decisions”.

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