As the rupee remains under pressure against major global currencies, Indian travellers are revising their international holiday plans by opting for shorter trips closer to home, rather than long-haul vacations booked months in advance. Easier visa processes, visa-free access and better value for money played a key role in supporting the outbound travel growth of Indians in 2025.
A report by Cox & Kings shows that last-minute international bookings made within 15 to 20 days before travel have increased by almost 30 per cent compared to last winter. Additionally, over 65 per cent. of these trips are for less than five days.
What does data from MakeMyTrip reflect?
Similarly, according to booking data for 2025 by MakeMyTrip, Thailand has emerged as the most preferred international destination for Indian travellers during the year-end and New Year holiday period, overtaking the UAE to claim the top spot. The data is based on bookings made for travel between December 20 and January 5, 2026.
Gen Z travellers also exploded onto the scene in 2025, accounting for a 650 per cent surge in bookings, according to data by Cleartrip.
The shift in India’s top travel destination for the new year is attributed to the younger demographic in India’s preference for authenticity over luxury shopping strips. Younger travellers didn’t just book differently; they booked multiple times, with data showing that one in five trips saw five or more customisations before final booking.
Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO of MakeMyTrip, said the year-end trends reflect India’s growing appetite for both domestic and international travel, with travellers increasingly combining leisure breaks with spiritually enriching journeys.
Rise in spiritual travel
Domestically, India saw a rise in spiritual travel in 2025, driven by the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. Uttar Pradesh was India’s most-visited state in 2025, with pilgrimages to Prayagraj and Ayodhya tripling and quadrupling compared to previous years, respectively. Pilgrimage bookings jumped to nearly 25 per cent of year-end travel, up from 23 per cent in 2024.
Yet leisure still dominated at 75 per cent, with Goa, Jaipur, and Udaipur remaining steadfast favourites. Among domestic holiday packages, Kerala topped the list, followed by Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, the Andaman Islands and Tamil Nadu.
While budget-conscious booking remained prevalent in 2025, premiumisation gained ground.
While bookings in the Rs 2,500- 5,000 per night category saw a slight moderation, the Rs 5,000-7,500 segment gained share, showing that travellers are increasingly willing to spend more for comfort and upgraded hotel and homestay stays. Ultra-luxury stays also saw wealthy Indian travellers drop Rs 29 lakh for European family vacations and Rs 4.4 lakh for single Maldivian nights.
Skyscanner’s newly released 2026 Travel Trends report, based on data from over 22,000 global travellers, including 2,000 Indian respondents, said that going forward, Indian travellers would look out for more personalisation.
The report identifies seven major trends, including “Glowmads” (beauty-ritual-driven travel), “Shelf Discovery” (exploring destinations through local supermarkets), and a crucial shift: “Destination Check-in,” where hotels themselves become the primary draw, shaping travel decisions.
