Pakistanis are last minute travelers: Report

Report by Jovago says 90 per cent of room bookings are made just days before commencement of travel

With summer vacations just around the corner and tourism industry expecting to cash in on the occasion, Jovago.com, a hotel booking website, has released a market research report which says Pakistanis mostly make travel plans at the last minute.

According to Jovago’s report, approximately 90 per cent of the hotel bookings made by Pakistanis are made just days before commencement of travel.

Giving a break up of data, the report identifies that 63% bookings are made less than a week before travel while 26% people make their reservations just a day before travelling.

A paltry six per cent of people book their rooms, at either hotels or guest houses, more than a week in advance of their travel.

A hotel worker clearing the parking lot after snowfall in Murree. PHOTO: INP

For hotels, the report has some good news. Jovago says that Pakistanis on an average spend approximately Rs5,000 ($50) per night on accommodation.

Though the price that average traveller is willing to pay is not too high, the difference in accommodation quality varies widely across the country. Some of the top hotels in Pakistan charge somewhere between Rs15,000 – Rs20,000 per night ($150-200) while guest houses rent rooms for as little ast Rs5,000 ($50).

Jovago notes that another habit of the average Pakistani traveller is that they do not like to pay in advance. Nearly 97 per cent of the travellers in Pakistan pay on arrival at their hotel, with only three per cent opting to pay for their rooms before arrival.

Travelling in pairs

The data further reveals that Pakistani mostly travel in pairs or groups with as many as 81 per cent of the travellers choosing a double room for their stay.

Only 15 per cent of travellers sought rooms for a single person. Four per cent of travellers go for other types of rooms, such as suite. It further says that most of the rooms booked accommodate two adults.

The article originally appeared on ProPakistani.pk