1. SeekSherpa
SeekSherpa was started by Sukhmani Singh and Dhruv Raj Gupta who aimed to develop an mobile application which connects local to travelers. In the applicstion, ine can get their doubts about the places they are visiting cleared by speaking with locals and get them as a guide as well for their tours. They can share the experiences which would further help other visitors. The locals are referred as Sherpas.
2. goMowgli
HOHO bus is one of the important tour included in many of international travel packages. On this concept, goMowgli provides the nearest location of the bus which one can easily hop on or hop off as you desire.
3. Nearify
Getting detail information about the place as soon as one drops to a destination surely relax the traveler’s mind and they can easily experience the destination following the data. The app provides information about all nearby activities, events happening around to help travelers to enhance their interaction with the destination and make more memories.
4. Oyo Rooms
The hotel startup played with the concept of providing basic amenities which are clean bed, good hospitality, wifi, good location and affordable rate. Oyo Rooms started working together with existing hotels and offer their rooms at discounted rates without any compromise in services. It is started by Ritesh Aggarwal who received major funding from Soft bank for the venture.
5. AudioCompass
With the concept of providing audio guiding to the visitors, Audio Compass is a mobile application which one can download and they will get all audio tours of the places they are visiting. The company is now an official partner of Ministry of tourism and once can find their advertisement at all the historic sites to download the app through Tourism board. They cover destinations like India, Singapore, Bhutan and Oman.
6. ExTravMoney
ExTravelMoney closely works with forex dealers across the country to bring you the best available exchange rate in the market for that day. All you need to do is login to the website, state your forex requirement and this Indian start-up will connect you to your nearest forex dealer. The incredible part is that once you make a request, the rates are locked and you are able to purchase your forex without any worry of prices going up.
7. Bharat Travels
With the concept of providing authentic tours to mythologists, art curators and archaeologists, the travel startup is now completed more than 68 years in the travel industry and still providing the niche with extreme travel base. The tour packages take tourists to explore art, culture and architecture of India. It has clients upto companies like Roll-Royce.
8. Travelkhana
Pushpinder Singh created this startup, Travelkhana to connect variety of restaurants with the travelers while they are on train. This majorly helps the tourists to get proper food on the train as train journeys in India are exhausting and with lack of hygienic food, matter becomes worst for some.
9. BeyondTravel
This is Bangalore Travel startup that focuses on giving the different travel experience of various countries by taking travelers to unexpected and less known regions. They provide unforgettable experiences through major activities like bicycle tour, adventure in countryside etc.
10. Girls on the Go Club
Piya Bose was a lawyer who turned into an entrepreneur and started travel startup focusing on making women to travel different destinations around the world with safety as prime concern. From cruising in the Greek islands to trips to Morocco, Girls on the Go Club provides a wide variety of tours for women, who wish to step out of their comfort zone. This startup, with its unique concept, is gaining huge popularity among self-dependent women.
11. MyTravelPie
It is founded by Ishank Ahuja with the concept of ‘experiential holidays’. The venture believes the essence of traveling is know the local lifestyles and thus they provide tours to off beat places, eco-lodges, villas, boutique resorts that give very unique experiences.
12. Detours India
The venture is started by Jayanti Rajgopalan who saw an opportunity to introduce the travel guests to the city they are visiting thorugh local foods. Some of the famous tours of the venture are The Biryani detour. The company fouces on providing a buffet plan to the travel packages making it very unique in presenting their travel packages.
13. DC design
Being focused in providing luxury feature to the traveling, Dilip Chhabria started his venture by providing luxury buses which have wifi, 21-inch touch-screen personal entertainment system. Reclining seats, stewardess to serve meals and many more comfort services to get the maximum of the destination in a relaxed manner.
14. White Collar Hippie
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel industry underwent significant changes, leading to the emergence of several innovative startups aiming to address the new needs and challenges of travelers. Here are some trends and areas where travel startups have been thriving:
- Health and Safety Solutions: With heightened concerns about health and safety, startups focusing on providing solutions such as contactless check-ins, health screenings, sanitation services, and travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage have seen increased demand.
- Remote Work and Travel: The rise of remote work has fueled the growth of startups catering to digital nomads and remote workers seeking flexible travel options, such as co-living spaces, remote work retreats, and platforms for booking long-term stays in different destinations.
- Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Travel: Conscious consumerism has led to a surge in startups promoting sustainable and eco-friendly travel experiences. These startups offer carbon offsetting solutions, eco-conscious accommodation options, and responsible tourism experiences that prioritize environmental conservation and community engagement.
- Virtual Travel Experiences: With travel restrictions in place, startups offering virtual travel experiences have gained popularity. These platforms provide virtual tours, immersive cultural experiences, and online classes that allow travelers to explore destinations from the comfort of their homes.
- Travel Technology and Innovation: Startups leveraging technology such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and blockchain to enhance various aspects of the travel experience, including itinerary planning, personalized recommendations, language translation, and contactless payments, have been on the rise.
- Local and Domestic Travel: As international travel restrictions persist, startups focusing on local and domestic travel have flourished. These startups offer curated experiences, unique accommodations, and activities tailored to domestic travelers looking to explore their own countries or regions.
- Flexible Booking and Cancelation Policies: Startups offering flexible booking and cancelation policies have gained traction among travelers seeking reassurance and flexibility amid uncertainty. These platforms provide options for last-minute changes, refunds, or credits for future bookings.
- Travel Community and Networking: With a growing desire for authentic connections and meaningful interactions, startups facilitating travel communities, group trips, and networking opportunities for like-minded travelers have gained popularity.
- Health and Wellness Travel: The pandemic has underscored the importance of mental and physical well-being, leading to the rise of startups focusing on health and wellness travel. These startups offer retreats, wellness programs, and experiences centered around mindfulness, fitness, and relaxation.
- Local Experiences and Cultural Immersion: Travel startups promoting authentic local experiences, cultural immersion, and off-the-beaten-path adventures have resonated with travelers seeking genuine connections and deeper insights into destinations.
Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated innovation and transformation within the travel industry, paving the way for startups to address evolving traveler needs, preferences, and behaviors in a post-pandemic world.
Vikrant Chheda started this venture to focus more on art and culture. There is no creation of tour packages but have goal to connect each travelers to the locals so that they would not get any repeated memory. Each interaction brings new experiences. The venture gained some popularity through its The Great Karnatka Journey where the activities are majorly flora and fauna sighting.
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