Booking.com is pursuing a broader strategy in the Indian travel market beyond its established hotel booking business. The company aims to increase its relevance among Indian travelers undertaking both domestic and international trips, while also seeking to capture business travel spending from small- and mid-sized enterprises.
According to Santosh Kumar, the company’s regional head for South Asia, Booking.com recognizes the need to become more pertinent to Indian travelers to achieve long-term success in the market. The platform is implementing multiple initiatives to strengthen its competitive position, including the development of an in-house payments system and the introduction of free booking tools designed specifically for startups and small businesses organizing corporate travel.
The company faces significant competitive headwinds from established local players, particularly MakeMyTrip, which maintains substantial market dominance in domestic travel bookings. Booking.com’s current brand recognition in India centers primarily on accommodation reservations, and the expansion into payments processing and business travel represents an effort to increase customer stickiness across both leisure and corporate travel categories.
Kumar also addressed concerns about external geopolitical factors affecting travel demand, indicating that Middle East regional tensions have not materially impacted the travel aspirations of Indian consumers. The company’s multi-pronged approach reflects a recognition that capturing greater share of Indian travelers’ spending requires diversifying beyond traditional hotel booking services.
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