News and Insights
Young Indians Are Prioritizing Luxury Travel
May 22, 2025
For young Indians, travel is seen as a must, especially with a touch of luxury. As the fastest growing outbound market, key players in the travel industry are doing everything they can to get in front of these young travelers who make up Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. At the beginning of the month, Shivani Gupta, Managing Partner, India launched our latest report co-created by GSIQ called The Future of Travel 2025 – From Dreamers to Doers: India’s Global Travel Generation at Arabian Travel Market.
“The Indian traveller today is no longer defined by age or income alone, they are defined by mindset. And it is the Gen Z mindset that’s leading the charge. Whether it is a 21-year-old digital nomad or a 45-year-old experience-seeker, the desire is to travel with purpose, personality, and passion. This shift is redefining how marketers and brands need to think. It is no longer enough to segment by demographics. They must understand emotional personas and speak to their motivations.
“Travel has become deeply personal, a reflection of one’s identity and aspirations. And if you want to win the trust and loyalty of this new wave, you need to engage with empathy, inspiration, and authenticity. The future of travel is about discovering the self, and brands that help travelers do that meaningfully, across generations, will be the ones that stay relevant,” shares Shivani Gupta, Managing Partner, India.
The report reveals valuable insights into the thought process and personas of young travelers in India and how marketing and communications strategies can have the greatest impact by reaching these groups at the inspiration stage, with Gen Z leading the charge for transitioning from aspirational to actionable with their booking speed.
What’s Driving International Travel among Young Indians?
Across all three generations, the top drivers for international travel were: fun & adventure (48%) and experiencing new cultures (47%). Another topic that cut across age: luxury. Young Indian travelers view luxury as a priority with 81% preferring luxury travel over a lavish wedding and 74% sharing that they would choose it over designer goods. However, it’s important to note that the luxury referred to today is considered a form of self-care. Personalized experiences are considered modern luxury. Gone are the days of cookie-cutter vacations. These tourists are judging luxury by originality, exclusivity, and emotional resonance.
Generic messaging like ‘high-end stay’ or ‘5-star comfort’ will no longer cut through. Instead, brands must showcase how a luxury stay feels, the kind of memories it creates, and the meaningful, Instagrammable, share-worthy moments it facilitates.
“Indian travelers are leaning into their travel and rather than looking simply for a passive, restful break younger travelers instead want engaged, front-foot travel with a little luxury thrown in. This means visiting destinations that have a buzz, and also using video sharing sites and AI to get the most out of their visit, ensuring every moment is a real experience.
“This doesn’t mean they don’t want to return home relaxed and rebalanced, but instead their holiday satisfaction is more about maximizing the moment than just soaking up the vibes. Helping these travelers achieve their emotional goals by helping them to participate rather than watch is what travel brands and destinations increasingly need to promise,” says Oliver Rowe, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at GSIQ.
“The data shows that destination preference is of secondary importance to how a destination makes Indian tourists feel. Marketing destinations based purely on physical characteristics and infrastructure won’t work. You have to instead emotionally profile your audience and map their emotional needs to how you tell your story. Countries like the UAE, a top destination for Indians, are successfully tapping into this approach by crafting experiences that cater to their emotional desires of travelers – whether it’s luxury, adventure, family bonding, or cultural exploration,” says Thomas Morris, Senior Partner, UAE and Head of EMEA Intelligence.
What are some of the hallmark differentiators between the generations?
- Gen Z – Bold, impulsive and driven by how a trip will feel, not just where it is.
- Millennials – Seek distinction, relaxation, and luxury without the frills of tradition.
- Gen X – Remains grounded in cultural depth, practical planning, and meaningful connections.
Some of the top destinations among these groups are the US, Switzerland, and Australia. Despite this being an incredibly inspired and proactive group, understanding the decision-making process and personas that influence these choices is key.
Explore India’s Luxury Travel Market
FINN Partners Global Travel is hosting a webinar on June 4th, to further delve into these insights that can help travel experts better understand how to access this dynamic outbound market.
Join Shivani Gupta, Managing Partner, India and Oliver Rowe, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at GSIQ as they sit down with Debbie Flynn, Managing Partner, Global Travel Practice Leader, to explore the multifaceted future of this rapidly growing market.
🗓️ June 4, 2025
🕤 2:00 PM GMT
Reserve your spot or sign up for the on-demand recording
Read the full report here
