In a first-of-its-kind survey, government to track how much India spends on travel

Govt to track how much India spends on daily travel and tourism

How many Indians live away from their homes for work or to study? How often do they visit their hometowns? How much time and money do people spend on travelling to work and how often do they travel for work or leisure?

These are the questions that the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) will seek answers for through its planned National Household Travel Survey, the first such study in the country.

Transport was one of the highest expenditures incurred by households, The Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys for FY23 and FY24, released last year, found. Transport expenses have risen nearly two percentage points since 2011-12.

In one of the biggest and busiest season of travel in recent times, more than 600 million people from across the country and abroad visited Praygraj in Uttar Pradesh for the Maha Kumbh. The 45-day long event, which concluded on February 26, is expected have given a boost to India’s economic growth.

Chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran has said Kumbh-related spending could help the economy reach its growth target of 7.6 percent for the fourth quarter of FY25, up from 6.2 percent in Q3.

India’s economy is expected to grow at 6.5 percent in FY25, data released on February 28 said, up from 6.4 percent in the first advance estimate released in early January.

Besides tracking travel habits, the survey, expected to begin in July, will also help track vehicle ownership among Indian households.

The new survey also aims to track the time spent online by students, which has become a norm post Covid, and the amount spent on daily travel.

The survey will also capture trips taken by people to seek work, for domestic services and for socialising.

The recent time-use survey conducted for 2024 found that people were spending less time on socialising and communication and more on culture and leisure activities.

Moneycontrol was the first to report in August last year that the government was planning a National Household Travel Survey.

It will also conduct a Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey from July 2025 and a survey on health, which is already underway.