Overview
On the podcast “WTF is Travel”, host Nikhil Kamath sat with Deep Kalra, founder and Group Executive Chairman of MakeMyTrip, and Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), to examine why India receives only about 10 million foreign tourists annually despite having 45 UNESCO World Heritage sites and a rapidly expanding middle class. They argue that the primary barrier is the “last‑mile” experience at destinations – issues such as parking, queue management, washroom facilities, accessibility and the connection from railway stations to taxis – rather than the lack of airports or highways, which have improved markedly.
Market Dynamics
Kalra noted that 95 % of MakeMyTrip bookings are generated by Indian customers, with roughly 70 % of booking value derived from domestic travel and the remaining 30 % from international travel, which is expanding at double‑digit rates. He highlighted that Indian residents spend approximately USD 16‑17 billion each year on outbound travel under the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme, creating a significant foreign‑exchange outflow.
Hospitality Gap
Chhatwal identified a shortage of appropriately positioned hotels, especially during peak seasons when rooms vanish and prices surge, prompting travelers to look elsewhere. He sees a large opportunity in “lean‑luxury” boutique and mid‑scale properties that deliver a high‑quality experience without the cost structure of traditional luxury hotels. He also emphasized that many innovative hotel concepts are being launched by entrepreneurs outside the conventional hospitality sector.
Technology and AI
The discussion turned to technology. MakeMyTrip’s AI‑driven voice assistant, Myra, currently handles between 80,000 and 90,000 voice‑based conversations per day. Kalra believes conversational AI can make travel planning more intuitive for the next wave of Indian internet users. Chhatwal expects AI to have its most immediate impact on back‑office functions such as revenue management and contract administration, while maintaining that human service remains essential for luxury experiences.
Path to 100 Million Visitors
When asked how India could increase foreign tourist arrivals from 10 million to 100 million within five years, Kalra and Chhatwal outlined a set of priorities: grant tourism infrastructure and industry a distinct status, improve last‑mile connectivity, launch aggressive global marketing of India as a destination, digitise and professionalise attractions and experiences, and strengthen coordination between the central government and states. They also stressed the need to disperse tourism beyond the few over‑burdened destinations currently facing capacity constraints, thereby providing visitors with more reasons to stay longer, explore further, and return.
Availability
The episode is available on YouTube, and the press release notes that People by WTF, the podcast platform, distributes the content under an arrangement with Newsvoir, with PTI disavowing editorial responsibility.