Outlook Business Desk
Goibibo, a leading travel booking platform, analysed 50,000 student bookings via its Student GoPass since January 2025. The data shows how young travellers differ in how they plan, pay, and travel across genders.
Goibibo offers bookings for flights, hotels, trains, buses, and cabs through its app and website. Its traveller-first, value-based approach ensures a smooth and affordable travel experience across services.
Today’s students may be united by digital habits and budget concerns, but gender still shapes how they travel. From transport modes to payment choices, male and female students prioritise differently—revealing distinct travel behaviours.
Female students show a stronger preference for air travel, with 36% booking domestic flights, compared to 23% of male students. On the other hand, 50% of male students choose ground transport like buses and trains, versus just 34% of females—suggesting that safety and time may play a key role in shaping these choices.
The gender divide shows up in tech and payment choices too. Over one in three female students use an iPhone, compared to just one in four male students. When paying, 71% of women prefer UPI, slightly higher than 64% of men. Interestingly, women are 50% less likely to use “Pay Later” options, suggesting a more cautious approach to spending.
Despite differences in how they travel, most students share a strong focus on affordability. Around 74% choose stays under ₹3,000 per night. They also plan earlier than others, with 63% booking more than a week in advance—unlike typical Indian travellers.
“The female student traveller is digitally savvy, deliberate, and values both convenience and safety,” said Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Marketing Officer, Goibibo. “While her choices may differ from her male counterpart, both are united by a strong focus on value. That’s exactly what we’ve designed the GoPass programme to deliver—smart, affordable travel options that make Goibibo the preferred platform for students across the country.”
Goibibo created the GoPass programme to meet students’ need for affordable and dependable travel. To enrol, students simply verify their identity using their college email ID, following which, they can access exclusive student-only deals across flights, hotels, buses, and trains.
With GoPass, students enjoy unmatched value—25% off on hotels, 10% off on flights, free meals on domestic flights, and savings on buses and trains.