Passionate about offbeat and meaningful travel, Loveleen Arun founded Panache World, a premier travel company that curates niche experiences for its customers. Her deep understanding of the Indian luxury travel market makes Panache World a preferred choice for many travellers.
Excerpts from the interview with Loveleen Arun, Founder-Director Of Panache World
T+L India: Panache World is over two decades old. How has the travel landscape evolved?
Loveleen Arun: The travel landscape has become so much more meaningful. One of the most significant shifts is the way people approach travel. In the early 2000s, tourists were often content with surface-level experiences and checking off major attractions. Today, we see a shift—from being mere tourists to becoming in- depth travellers who yearn to connect with the soul of their destinations. The internet and social media have democratised travel information. Travellers research destinations extensively and often have a clear vision of what they want to experience.
T+L India: According to you, what are the travel trends that will dominate 2024?
Loveleen Arun: Two things are bound to happen soon—a new and emphasised focus is going to be on sustainable travel. People are making informed choices about where they will stay or what they will experience to make sure that these entities are providing livelihood to the local communities and that they are not impacting the destination or the environment negatively.Secondly, travellers are taking to slow travel in a big way. No one wants to rush through the places clicking pictures. They want to stay longer, get to know people, and appreciate the local culture. How do you think experiential travel has transformed the industry? The rise of experiential travel has redefined the way the travel industry functions. Travellers no longer seek opulent accommodations alone; they desire immersive experiences. Destinations, experiential hotels, and tourism boards have understood this and have invested a lot in training the luxury designers in various geographies. Hotels have had to up their game—making sure they have hyper-local sourcing, employ people from local communities, and use sustainable materials for construction. Destinations now know they must cater to varying interests and this has given rise to small entrepreneurs in most tourist regions.
T+L India:Which destinations are becoming increasingly popular among Indian travellers?
Loveleen Arun: Indian travellers are already exploring every part of the world—from Scandinavia to Antarctica and the Galápagos Islands to New Zealand—and will continue to be the first ones in their circle to explore a new region. The Indian traveller, especially in the luxury segment, is evolving to savour destinations such as Namibia, Botswana, Mongolia, Ecuador, Raja Ampat, and more.
TAB Selects
A transformative travel experience: Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Bucket list destinations for 2024: Central Asia and Okavango Delta in Botswana
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Written By
Simrran Gill
Features EditorAn advocate of slow travel, Simrran Gill can mostly be found documenting her journeys, food, and people. Often fascinated by life in general, she is a true-blue Delhite and loves every opportunity to pack a suitcase and hop on the next flight out. She is a post-graduate in journalism and has previously worked with Outlook Traveller. When not travelling ..Read More
