Cruises, self drive: 85% Indians plan more holidays, 84% to spend big

Additionally, spiritual/pilgrimage tourism is on the rise - with our 'darshans' portfolio coupled with adventure tourism is gaining popularity - interestingly from young India's millennials and GenZ

Indians are packing their bags—and their wallets—with renewed purpose. As per the India Holiday Report 2025 by Thomas Cook and SOTC, travel is no longer a luxury or a once-a-year indulgence. It’s becoming a lifestyle priority, with 85% of Indians planning more frequent and longer holidays this year, and 84% ready to boost their travel budgets by up to 50%.

 

Cruises, self-drives, and scenic trains take center stage

Forget whirlwind sightseeing tours—today’s Indian traveller prefers immersive journeys. Unique travel formats like cruise holidays (45%), self-drive road trips (35%), and scenic train journeys (20%) have gained serious traction. From European river cruises to panoramic rail rides in Switzerland, the shift reflects a desire for slower, more meaningful travel.

 

 

“Travellers are prioritizing depth, discovery and emotion,” sais Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. “It’s about curated comfort-first experiences rather than ticking off destinations.”

 

Digital Meets Human: Phygital Booking is the New Normal

Travel planning has gone hybrid. A growing number of Indians (58%) now blend online research with offline bookings through travel agents or call centers. While 68% book online, 59% still prefer talking to an expert, indicating the enduring trust in human touch and personalized advice.

 

This phygital model—a mix of digital and physical channels—is emerging as a strong conversion driver, catering to both tech-savvy millennials and value-seeking families.

 

Travel Styles: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

• When it comes to how Indians prefer to travel:
• 35% want partially guided tours with flexibility.
• 33% choose fully packaged, guided tours.
• 32% plan their holidays entirely on their own.

 

Here are the key findings of the report: 

1. Key Holiday Drivers: 

 

Influence of Social media, OTT platforms and Movies: 60% respondents indicated that social media, OTT platforms and movies are increasingly shaping their travel decisions

 

Simplified visa processes and easy access: 44% respondents are more likely to visit countries offering simplified visa processes like e-visa or visa-on-arrival options such as Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, Sri Lanka; while countries that issue long-term visas are also seeing uptick like the Australia, Japan, USA

 

Enhanced connectivity: 43% Introduction of new routes and direct flights are significantly improving accessibility - fuelling travel demand not just from metros, but significantly from India’s rapidly growing Regional Tier 1 & 2 markets.

 

Indian consumers continue to remain value-seekers: 39% prefer to actively seek promotions. At the same time, there is a clear shift towards trusted travel brands for premium holiday experiences, reflecting a focus on reliability

 

2. Increased frequency of Holidays and Longer Stays:

 

Holidays set to double/Triple: 85% of respondents plan to increase their holidays from 2 per year to 4-6 trips annually

 

Smart planning fuels mini-cations: 47% of respondents intend to leverage long weekends/ public holidays for short getaways.

 

Equally, Strong shift towards longer trips with 54% respondents preferring longer holidays by extending for an additional 5-10 days, to create holidays of an average of 8-15 days.

 

3. Strong Holiday Spend Intent:

 Approximately 84% of respondents plan to increase their travel spends by 20-50% in 2025, with over 18% intending to boost budgets by a significant 50%. This mirrors a broader trend, where travellers are allocating more budgets to gastronomy, experiences and shopping - including premium outlets like McArthurGlen and Bicester Village.

 

Evolving Travel Companion Preferences:

 

Travelling together remains the preferred mode, with 90% opting for company. Multigenerational families (65%) lead the chart, followed by couples (60%) and a rising segment—‘frolleagues’ (colleagues who double as friends) at 28%; Solo at 10%

 

Family bonding trips on the rise: There has been an increase in travel experiences focused on family connections, such as mother-daughter trips and sibling/cousin holidays

 

Growing subsets, including solo female travellers, also in older age groups and empty nesters, reflecting diverse companion preferences across demographics

 

4. Experiential Travel Takes Centre Stage:

Close to 75% respondents indicating strong interest for experience-led holidays.  Over 45% of respondents are prioritizing phenomenon-based travel (like Northern Lights – Norway, Murmansk; Japan-S Korea’s Cherry blossoms; Midnight sun –Iceland, Russia) - a pivot towards bucket list experiences

 

Uptick in Safaris, self-drives, outdoor adventures (32%)

 

Gastronomy (26%) reflecting - evolving palates and desire to experiment - with France, Spain,

Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea

 

Event tourism—global music concerts, sporting events and festivals are also on the rise, aligning with a focus on entertainment-driven travel experiences (22%). Australia, Abu Dhabi, Thailand Spa-Wellness (19%) Relaxation, rejuvenation seeing demand – especially in destinations like Thailand, Bali, Kerala

 

Luxury Holidays on the Rise:

Over 36% respondents are opting for premium experiences like transportation via super cars/bikes, luxury cruise holidays (Scandinavia, Mediterranean, USA), private island dining in Australia, upscale stays in boutique hotels, French chateaux/Swiss chalets, heritage properties in India, glacier landings in New Zealand.

 

 Destination Preferences:

Internationally, Europe continues to top the list (50%) led by Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany; Eastern Europe’s Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia emerging well. Short-hauls like Southeast Asia follows with favourites like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore (46%); also Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Ras Al-Khaimah (37%); Japan & South Korea (35%) and Australia-New Zealand (26%); Island locales – Mauritius, Maldives, Bali, Sri Lanka (22%); South Africa & Kenya (12%)

 

Central Asia’s Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan (32%) signal growing interest for unique short hauls with easy access and affordability

Morocco, Iceland, Greenland (8%) emerging on the radar

  For travel in India and subcontinent: Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (55%) remain top favourites; North East (25%); Bhutan (32%); Rajasthan & Kerala (21%). Island/beach escapes like Andaman &; Lakshadweep (3%); are also gaining strong momentum; Goa (13%) 

Sustainability focus: 37% of respondents are increasingly prioritizing sustainability and eco-conscious practices in their travel choices

  Impact of AI and Tech on Travel Planning: The rise of AI and technology is transforming travel planning, with 35% of travellers using digital platforms for research, bookings and itinerary planning