The United Nations has dedicated November 19 as ‘World Toilet Day’ to focus attention on a critical health need for 2.4 billion people in developing countries including India for sanitary toilet conditions. HolidayIQ, India's 
largest travel community where 12 million travellers plan holidays every month conducted a survey to understand the current scenario and importance of access to restrooms, while travelling. Conducted over last week, the survey saw more than 32,000 travellers from over 80 Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune participate.
India direly needs a toilet revolution if it needs to bring in revenue from tourism. Of the 2.4 billion people in the world who have no toilets, India accounts for nearly 600m. Those who have travelled the country will understand the fuss about toilets in India too well. Even at some of the world’s most frequented sightseeing sites in India, access to toilets is considered a luxury.
Below are the findings from the survey: 99% Indian travellers said there is a need for more toilets across tourism destinations and spots in the country. Interestingly, highways were given the highest number of votes on where we need more toilets, topping the list at 92%. While only 85% male travellers voted for highways, 98% women travellers expressed a need for more toilets on highways. As more women travelling in India, we see women travellers have voted for more toilets across the board. They also mention toilets are an essential element in planning holidays, especially in deciding the mode of travel.
With festive tourism growing and most travellers taking to religious destinations, Religious Places saw 86% travellers demand the necessity for toilets in and around religious temples and other historical places of religious significance. Bus Stations and Buses are other areas that need to have access to clean toilets and 76% travellers opt for the same.
- Highways 92%
- Sightseeing Places - 89%
- Destinations with Religious significance - 86%
- Trains & Train Stations – 76%
- Buses & Bus Stations - 76%
- Remote/Offbeat Destinations - 70%
The traveller wish list includes As per the survey, there were 86% travellers who demand cleaner toilets while 71% claim the need for more toilets. Safety and Security account for 62%. 56% travellers demand disabled friendly toilets while 37% require feeding rooms for women.
- Cleaner Toilets - 86%
- More Toilets - 71%
- Safety & Security at Toilets - 62 %
- Disabled Friendly - 56%
- More features such as baby friendly bathrooms with Feeding Rooms, Diaper changing rooms and the like - 37%
- Travellers ranked destinations with the highest need for Toilets as
- Beaches
- Destinations with spiritual / Religious significance
- Heritage Destinations
- Jungle & Wildlife Destinations
- Hill Stations
- Cities
About HolidayIQ HolidayIQ is India's largest travel community and Holidays recommendation engine with 11 million members across cities and is also the first holiday planning website in India powered entirely by reviews, photos, videos and other advice generated from these travellers. Above 70% vacations planned every month are on HolidayIQ through mobile devices. HolidayIQ.com is a VC-backed company, invested in by Tiger Global, Accel Partners and Makemytrip.com operationally headquartered in Bangalore, India. HolidayIQ.com lists over 2000 tourism destinations & 50,000+ accommodation options (hotels, resorts, home-stays, jungle camps & serviced apartments) in India. All of which are bookable through over 1600 partnerships with leading online travel agencies like Makemytrip, Yatra and Expedia & offline players such as Thomas Cook, SOTC, etc.
Photo Caption: HolidayIQ Insights- World Toilet Day
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