Temporal Patterns in Digital Travel Booking Behavior among Indians: A Multi-Modal Analysis of Search Trends

1. Introduction

Google has dominated over other alternative search engines for the last two decades, holding a global market share of 91.47% in 2024. There are 5.44 billion internet users worldwide, and approximately 4.97 billion people rely on Google for their search needs. The United States has the largest share of Google traffic at 19.58%, followed by India (8.24%), Brazil (5.86%), and Japan (5.82%). While Google remains the most-used search engine globally, its dominance in desktop search traffic varies by country, with India leading at 92.9%, followed by Italy at 87.84% and Spain at 87.05%.

Google Trends (GT), a free tool from Google, is one of the most invaluable resources for understanding search behaviour across various domains. GT data is widely used by eCommerce, SEO, marketing, and even stock market analysis professionals. This tool provides up-to-the-minute data, enabling users to identify emerging trends quickly. GT is unique in its ability to capture genuine user interests and concerns, offering insights that are often more candid than traditional surveys.

Beyond professional applications, Google serves as a key tool for users across multiple domains. In healthcare, people use Google to research symptoms, find nearby doctors or hospitals, and explore treatment options. Students and researchers leverage Google for academic content, accessing millions of scholarly articles, e-books, and data sources. Retail consumers use Google to compare prices, read reviews, and discover trending products, shaping purchasing decisions in real-time.

The transportation sector has also greatly benefited from Google’s cutting-edge modern technologies. Travelers use Google to book flights, buses, and trains, find routes, and check real-time traffic updates. Features like Google Maps, integrated with search, allow users to plan trips efficiently by providing detailed information about public transportation schedules, ride-hailing options, and even parking availability. For example, people searching for Tatkal train tickets in India often rely on Google to stay updated on booking times and seat availability, aligning perfectly with peak search hours. Similarly, frequent flyers use Google to monitor airfare trends and secure the best deals, while commuters depend on it for real-time updates on delays or alternative routes.

In summary, Google is not merely a search engine but an essential tool for navigating various aspects of modern life. Its vast data repository and user-friendly tools empower individuals and organizations to make informed decisions, optimize resources, and respond effectively to emerging needs across domains. Whether it’s finding a solution to a health concern, purchasing a product, or planning a journey, Google plays an integral role in shaping how people search and act on information in the digital age.

This research examines high-frequency data from GT to identify patterns in consumer search behaviour across three primary modes of transportation: air, rail, and bus services. Understanding temporal patterns in travel booking behaviour is crucial for both transportation service providers and digital booking platforms. For service providers, aligning resource allocation with peak search hours and adjusting marketing strategies to modal-specific patterns can optimize engagement. Time-based pricing strategies may also be effective in capitalizing on predictable search behaviours. For digital platforms, scaling infrastructure for peak usage periods and implementing user experience optimizations based on temporal patterns can enhance performance.

2. Data & Methodology

This descriptive research utilized GT data collected from November 10-17, 2024, with search volumes normalized on a scale of 0-100. Data points were recorded at hourly intervals for three specific search terms: Flight ticket booking, Bus ticket booking, Train ticket booking. This exploratory analysis focused on three key dimensions: Diurnal patterns (24-hour cycles) and Modal comparisons across different time periods. 

3. Results and Discussion

The analysis of travel booking search behaviour reveals distinct daily cycles, with peak activity occurring consistently during business hours (09:00-18:00) and maximum intensity observed in the mid-morning hours (09:00-11:00). Morning hours (09:00-11:00) mark the period of highest search activity across all modes, while the afternoon (14:00-17:00) is characterized by a sustained plateau of moderate activity. During nighttime (01:00-05:00), search activity drops to minimal levels, often reaching zero.

A closer comparison of modes shows that flight booking patterns experience the highest peak volumes and the most volatility, with strong afternoon persistence. Bus bookings exhibit consistent daytime volumes with pronounced evening activity (15:00-19:00), indicating a stronger sensitivity to business hours. On the other hand, train bookings maintain a stable overnight baseline, exhibit lower volatility, and show strong early morning search volumes with consistent patterns.

The peak volume of train ticket bookings during the morning hours (09:00-11:00) can likely be attributed to Tatkal e-ticket bookings. Travellers frequently reserve these tickets one day in advance, excluding the journey date from the train’s originating station. Tatkal bookings open at 10:00 AM for AC classes (2A/3A/CC/EC/3E) and at 11:00 AM for non-AC classes (SL/FC/2S), aligning closely with the observed surge in search activity.

4. Conclusion

Based on the observed patterns in travel booking search behaviour, service providers and digital platforms can implement several actionable strategies to inform better decision-making and achieve their business goals effectively. Service providers can optimize their operational strategies by aligning resource allocation with the peak search hours, particularly during the morning (09:00-11:00) and afternoon (14:00-17:00) periods. For flight services, the high volatility and peak volumes during late morning hours highlight an opportunity to deploy dynamic pricing strategies and time-sensitive promotions to capture consumer attention. Given the pronounced evening activity and weekend morning peaks, bus service providers might consider tailored marketing campaigns during these times to maximize engagement, while train service providers could enhance their offerings to capitalize on consistent early morning searches.

Digital platforms supporting travel bookings can focus on scaling their infrastructure to handle peak search periods effectively, minimizing downtime or delays during high-traffic hours. Additionally, platforms should explore designing time-based user experiences, such as personalized notifications or search suggestions, to align with observed behavioural trends. For off-peak hours, particularly at night, a mobile-first approach could be emphasized to encourage search activity, as users may rely more on mobile devices during these times. Lastly, introducing features that address the unique characteristics of each transportation mode—such as flexible scheduling tools for bus travellers or price comparison dashboards for flight searches—can further enhance user satisfaction and conversion rates. By tailoring strategies to these insights, both service providers and digital platforms can improve operational efficiency and consumer engagement.

Even though this study offers several valuable implications, it also has certain limitations, including its restricted focus on a one-week period and three specific search terms. Future research could extend the analysis to capture seasonal trends, incorporate a broader set of search terms and languages, and include booking conversion data for deeper insights. Geographic variations in search patterns also warrant exploration. Overall, the analysis highlights complex yet predictable temporal patterns in travel booking searches, with distinct variations across transportation modes. These insights can inform service providers and digital platforms to refine their offerings to align with consumer behaviour.

5. References