Indian Travellers

Shikhar Aggarwal of BLS International discusses the push for faster tech-led visa services, changing Indian travel preferences, and the company's expansion across major global markets

China flights opening to give 15% rise in tourist arrivals, says JMD Aggarwal

Europe remains a top pick for Indian travellers, and this winter brings extra cheer - package prices, airfares have fallen by up to 40% between November and February, according to Cox and Kings

In the process, she draws the reader into not just the train and the intricacies of its sleeper class, but also the people, the character of cities it passes, and of course the surrounding countryside

A new Booking.com report shows 80% of Indian travellers now prefer to spend most of their time at hotels, driving a boom in experience-led stays and non-room revenues

India is witnessing a record surge in festive travel this Diwali, as travellers combine traditional celebrations and family reunions with luxury escapes and spiritual journeys, with online travel platforms reporting strong growth in domestic and international bookings, according to experts. MakeMyTrip co-founder and Group CEO Rajesh Magow said visiting friends and relatives (VFR) remains the biggest driver of festive season travel, as many Indians head back to their hometowns to celebrate Diwali. "Therefore, of the top 10 most booked destinations, five are metros: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. This year, with the festival falling early in the week, many travellers are booking their trips as early as the preceding Friday to enjoy extended festivities. "We are also observing a rise in demand for pilgrimage destinations, reflecting how families are combining festive reunions with spiritual journeys," he noted. In terms of international travel, short-haul destination

A new report shows how Gen Zs, SUVs, and short trips are driving India's road travel boom, with Tier 2 cities leading growth

According to Cox and Kings, this segment is expected to grow annually by 15-20 per cent over the next three to five years. These types of trips generally range from 10 to 12 days to over a month

According to trade experts, hotels across the state are busy and preparing for the main tourist season, from October to March, as they expect a big rush during this monsoon season

More than 40 per cent of Indian travellers forget their belongings, including clothing items, during their trips, according to a report. Nearly half (42 per cent) Indian travellers leave behind clothing items like socks, shirts, tops during their holidays, followed by electronics like earphones, chargers or power banks (37 per cent), toiletries (36 per cent), glasses (30 per cent) and jewellery/watch (22 per cent), according to the report by online travel and related services provider by Booking.com and global market research company YouGov. Indians have also forgotten important documents such as passports or IDs (17 per cent), unexpected items such as hair extensions or wigs (15 per cent), teeth aligners (13 per cent) and even pets (12 per cent) at the destination, the report said. While packing, the most commonly forgotten items by Indian travellers include phone chargers or adapters (35 per cent), followed by toothbrushes or toothpaste (33 per cent), medicines (29 per cent) and .

Foreign tourists are trickling back to China after the country loosened its visa policy to unprecedented levels. Citizens from 74 countries can now enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, a big jump from previous regulations. The government has been steadily expanding visa-free entry in a bid to boost tourism, the economy and its soft power. More than 20 million foreign visitors entered without a visa in 2024 almost one-third of the total and more than double from the previous year, according to the National Immigration Administration. This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa and go through the process, Georgi Shavadze, a Georgian living in Austria, said on a recent visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. While most tourist sites are still packed with far more domestic tourists than foreigners, travel companies and tour guides are now bracing for a bigger influx in anticipation of summer holiday goers coming to China. I'm practical

Visa searches spike 28% for Wimbledon, up to 30% for Formula 1 races as fans plan immersive trips. India eyes sports tourism with new national policy

With protests and new curbs across Europe, Indian travellers are shifting focus to Southeast Asia, where relaxed visa rules are driving a spike in interest

The global airport automation market size is projected to surge to $85.12 billion by 2033 from $5.05 billion currently

Hotel, flight rates climb over increased demand, geopolitical disruptions

The next wave of travellers is increasingly coming from emerging markets like China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam, outpacing traditional tourism heavyweights like the US, UK, and Germany

Industry executives said closure of airspaces leading to longer routes and flight times has already led to a 12-15% hike in air fares on some routes

While Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia remain the top destinations in terms of passenger seat capacity in flights, Vietnam has emerged as the biggest gainer

Millennials and Gen Zs comprise almost half of travelers going abroad, says survey by insurance company

More than 100 countries offer visa-free, e-Visa, or visa-on-arrival access for Indian passport holders