News and Insights
81% of Indians Now Choose Luxury Travel Over Lavish Weddings: New Report
May 1, 2025
STRAP – FINN Partners has unveiled its latest report, “The Future of Travel 2025: From Dreamers to Doers – India’s Global Travel Generation,” revealing a seismic shift in how Indian travelers approach the world. At the heart of this transformation are five distinct emotional personas that are powerful, cross-generational profiles that decode how Indians choose where to go and what experiences to seek based on how they want to feel. No longer defined by age or affluence, these personas reflect the emotional soul of India’s outbound travel movement, rooted in connection, rejuvenation, and storytelling. This is not just a demographic trend; it is a deep cultural evolution.
New Delhi: India’s outbound travel revolution is here, and it is emotionally charged, generationally driven, and globally significant. A new report by FINN Partners, in collaboration with GSIQ, entitled ‘The Future of Travel 2025: From Dreamers to Doers – India’s Global Travel Generation,’ reveals a seismic shift in the Indian travel mindset, where luxury is no longer a trophy of status, but a meaningful indulgence. The report, based on a survey of 2,000 Indian international leisure travelers, captures the evolution of Indian travel motivations, behaviors, and emotional triggers across GenZ, Millennials, and GenX.
“Indian travelers are no longer just dreaming. They are doing with intent, emotional clarity, and rising global fluency. Travel has become the ultimate expression of self, more valued than traditional markers of success like weddings or luxury goods. It is time the world took notice, because India is leading the way in travel,” says Shivani Gupta, Managing Partner, FINN Partners.
Indian travelers are replacing one-time rituals and heirlooms with immersive memories. According to the report, 81% prefer luxury travel over lavish weddings, 74% would choose it over designer purchases, and 56% prioritize hotel upgrades over flight upgrades.
From zen garden meditations in Japan’s Kyoto to vineyard picnics in Australia’s Yarra Valley, luxury travel has become a new-age rite of passage for Indians across income levels. What was once reserved for milestone events is now a frequent and intentional investment in self-care, connection, and memory-making.
Across all generations, Indian travelers are now planning journeys based on how they want to feel, not just what they want to see. The top motivations for travel in 2025 include are fun and adventure (48%), cultural discovery (47%) and emotional rejuvenation, especially among GenZ.
Gone are the days when sightseeing or ‘bucket-list ticking’ defined travel. Today’s Indian traveler seeks emotional takeaways such as relaxation, inspiration, and personal connection. Travel is now a form of modern wellness.
GenZ is setting the tone for global tourism with a bold new mantra of ‘Live the dream now.’ Whether it is desert safaris in Dubai or temple explorations in Thailand, this digitally native generation is acting on aspiration faster than ever. GenZ prefers spontaneous, content-fuelled travel decisions, and 95% include international travel in their financial planning. They favor boutique stays and emotional storytelling over traditional luxuries. This trend is reshaping travel planning, influencing Millennials and GenX alike, and presenting India’s youth as the epicenter of global travel commerce.
“Every global travel brand now needs an India strategy. Indian travelers have emerged as world-shaping consumers of culture, luxury, and story-rich experiences. They seek the emotional, the immersive, and the authentic. Destinations must respond or risk becoming irrelevant,” says Debbie Flynn, Managing Partner, Global Travel Practice Leader, FINN Partners.
Travel inspiration in India is increasingly powered by emotion-rich digital content, as 53% of travelers say YouTube vlogs are the most influential. GenZ relies on Instagram, valuing spontaneity and aesthetics, while GenX prefers planning tools and detailed blogs for trust and clarity. A compelling vlog can convert desire into bookings faster than any brochure. Emotional storytelling now drives commerce.
“From local startups to global airlines, travel brands are customizing offerings to meet Indian travelers’ needs with more flight options, better prices, and services that resonate and will help fuel India’s outbound trips. As India’s middle class continues to explore the world, its influence on international tourism will only grow,” says Eva Stewart, Managing Partner, GSIQ Tourism Insights.
Indian outbound travel is high-spending, emotionally led, and action-oriented. To engage this audience, travel brands, tourism boards, content creators, and luxury platforms must speak to emotional personas, not demographics, show what a trip feels like, not just what it includes, and offer flexible, personalized journeys designed around rejuvenation, connection, and cultural storytelling.
To learn more about the insights from “The Future of Travel 2025: From Dreamers to Doers – India’s Global Travel Generation,” you can participate in the upcoming webinar on May 12th at 4 PM GMT by registering for the event.