MakeMyTrip, a leading online travel company, has announced a strategic partnership with food delivery giant Zomato to revolutionize meal services for train passengers across India. This collaboration aims to enhance the travel experience by offering a wide array of dining options to railway travelers.

Expanded Food Choices for Train Travelers

The new service allows passengers booking train tickets through MakeMyTrip's app to order meals from over 40,000 restaurants listed on Zomato. This extensive network covers more than 130 railway stations throughout India, significantly expanding the food choices available to train travelers.

Leveraging Technology for Timely Delivery

To ensure that meals reach passengers at the right time, MakeMyTrip is utilizing its 'Live Train Status' tool. This feature helps coordinate the food preparation and delivery process with the train's real-time location, aiming to provide a seamless and punctual dining experience.

Growing Demand for E-Catering Services

The partnership comes at a time when e-catering services in Indian Railways are witnessing substantial growth. Over 90,000 passengers used Indian Railways' e-catering services daily, marking a significant 66% year-on-year increase. This trend underscores the rising demand for diverse and quality food options among train travelers.

Soft Launch and Future Plans

MakeMyTrip reports an encouraging response to the initial soft launch of this service. Building on this positive reception, the company plans to roll out targeted campaigns to increase awareness and adoption of the new food delivery option among train passengers.

Festive Season Promotion

As part of the launch and coinciding with the festive season, MakeMyTrip is offering an additional incentive to users. Customers booking train tickets through the MakeMyTrip app will receive free coupons for Zomato food orders, further encouraging them to try the new service.

This partnership between MakeMyTrip and Zomato marks a significant step in improving the dining options for train passengers in India. By combining MakeMyTrip's travel expertise with Zomato's extensive restaurant network, the initiative promises to add a new dimension to the train travel experience, offering convenience and variety to millions of railway passengers across the country.

MakeMyTrip, a leading online travel company, has reported a significant uptick in pilgrimage travel across India. According to the company's latest report, spiritual tourism to 56 destinations in the country has grown by 19%, highlighting a robust trend in this segment of the travel industry.

Key Pilgrimage Destinations

The report identifies several top destinations that have contributed to this growth:

• Uttar Pradesh: Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya emerged as leading pilgrimage sites
• Other Popular Locations: Puri, Amritsar, and Tirupati also saw significant visitor numbers

Travel Patterns and Booking Trends

MakeMyTrip's data reveals interesting insights into how pilgrims are planning their spiritual journeys:

• 63% of trips were booked within a week of travel, indicating a preference for spontaneous or last-minute planning
• Over half of the travelers opted for single-night stays
• Only 5% of pilgrims chose to stay for four nights or more
• Group bookings accounted for a substantial 47% of all reservations

Accommodation Preferences

The report sheds light on the types of accommodations favored by pilgrimage travelers:

• Most rooms booked were priced below Rs 4,500
• Premium hotels (above Rs 7,000 per night) experienced a 20% growth
• Homestays and apartments represented 10% of total stays, indicating a growing interest in alternative accommodations

Factors Contributing to Growth

Rajesh Magow, CEO of MakeMyTrip, attributed the growth in pilgrimage travel to improved connectivity across the country. He also highlighted a recent development that could further boost domestic travel:

"The recent GST cuts on hotel rooms below Rs 7,500 will make travel more affordable for domestic travelers," Magow stated, suggesting that this could contribute to continued growth in the sector.

Impact on the Travel Industry

The surge in pilgrimage travel represents a significant opportunity for the Indian travel and hospitality sector. With a 19% year-on-year growth, spiritual tourism is emerging as a key driver for domestic travel. The diverse preferences in accommodation types and the strong showing of group bookings indicate a market ripe for tailored travel packages and services.

As connectivity improves and travel becomes more affordable due to policy changes like GST cuts, the pilgrimage travel segment is poised for further expansion. This trend could lead to increased investment in infrastructure and services in and around major spiritual destinations, potentially boosting local economies and the overall tourism industry in India.

MakeMyTrip's report underscores the importance of understanding and catering to the unique needs of pilgrimage travelers, from flexible booking options to a range of accommodation choices. As this segment continues to grow, it may reshape strategies for both online travel platforms and traditional tour operators in the coming years.