• India witnessed a record-breaking surge in outbound travel in the first half of 2025.• Over 9.2 million Indians travelled abroad in the first six months—up by 11% YoY.• Growth is driven by visa relaxations, increased air connectivity, and rising disposable incomes, especially among Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities.• A significant shift is seen in Gen Z and millennial preferences toward short-haul, experience-centric destinations.🌏 Top Destinations (Overall) Rank Country Reason for Popularity 1. UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)Shopping, leisure, luxury, family activities
2. Thailand Beaches, nightlife, budget travel
3. Vietnam Visa-free entry, scenic nature, culture
4. Singapore Family travel, theme parks, cleanliness
5. Indonesia (Bali)Wellness, couples, weddings, yoga retreats
6 Saudi ArabiaSpiritual tourism (Umrah, religious circuits)
7 Japan Spring travel (sakura), youth fascination with anime
8 Maldives Luxury resorts, honeymooners, eco-conscious travel
9 Turkey Istanbul’s popularity, visa-on-arrival option
10 Australia Long-haul boom from metros, education & leisure
Zone-wise Preferences (Jan–June 2025)
North India (Delhi, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan, Haryana)•
Top Picks: UAE, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey• Trends:• High demand for family holidays & spiritual tours (esp. Umrah from UP).• Increasing luxury demand from Delhi & Chandigarh for Europe, Maldives.• Religious travel to Israel, Saudi Arabia & Jordan is gaining momentum.
South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra)
• Top Picks: Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia• Trends:• Growth in family travel, cruise bookings, and student tourism.• Bengaluru and Hyderabad emerging as high-spend source markets.• Kerala & Tamil Nadu show strong interest in eco-tourism and cultural experiences.• Surge in Japan & South Korea interest (pop culture & anime influence).
West India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, MP)•
Top Picks: Dubai, Thailand, Maldives, Australia, Vietnam• Trends:• Mumbai shows strong demand for short luxury getaways.• Gujarat-based families lean toward group tours and packages.• Goa travelers exploring Bali, Sri Lanka, and Greece.• Australia and South Africa show increasing MICE and long-haul bookings.
🟣 East India (West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand)•
Top Picks: Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia•
Trends:• Preference for budget-friendly and visa-free options.• Kolkata leads outbound numbers from this region.• Increasing traction for Vietnam due to affordable experiences.• Growing curiosity about South Korea & Japan among students and youth.
Central India & Tier 2/3 Towns
• Trend: Surge in outbound numbers from cities like Indore, Surat, Nagpur, Lucknow, Jaipur, Coimbatore.• Popular for group packages and honeymoon travel to Bali, Dubai, Thailand.• These markets are price-sensitive but show growing appetite for unique experiences.
Segment-wise Travel Behavior
Segment Preferences Gen Z & Millennials Spontaneous travel, short trips, adventure, Instagrammable spots (e.g., Japan, Bali, South Korea)Honeymooners & Couples Maldives, Bali, Mauritius, Greece Families Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand
Spiritual Travellers: Saudi Arabia (Umrah), Jordan, Israel, Nepal
Luxury Seekers: Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Dubai
Eco & Culture Tourists – Vietnam, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, South Africa
Emerging Trends to Watch (Rest of 2025 Forecast)•
Short-haul destinations will continue booming due to visa ease & airfare costs.•
Digital nomads & remote workers increasingly eye Bali, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Conscious tourism (sustainability, slow travel) gaining traction among urban Gen Z.
• Faith-based tourism (Umrah, Israel pilgrimages) to grow further.•
Experiential family packages (theme parks, edutainment) in demand.
Conclusion
India’s outbound travel market in H1 2025 demonstrates resilient, high-paced growth, with travelers becoming more experience-driven, digitally spontaneous, and regionally diverse in their preferences. The second half of the year is expected to break further records—especially with the festive and winter travel season ahead.
