This post was originally published on here
New Delhi: Travel companies say looking ahead in the new year, early signals point to a deeper shift towards slower, more meaningful travel.
Travel and hospitality companies foresee continued growth of the travel industry in the new year with experience formats such as events-led travel, and wellness-focused holidays gaining greater traction besides offbeat destinations cornering a bigger share in domestic as well as outbound travel.
Karan Agarwal, director at Cox & Kings, said he expects the strongest growth in cultural and wellness circuits within India, wildlife and nature-led itineraries, visa-friendly international destinations, and secondary global cities.
“Travel durations are likely to increase to 10-14 days, with even senior citizens driving demand for trusted, well-paced formats,” he added.
Rajeev Kale, president and country head for holidays, MICE & Visa at Thomas Cook (India), said the year ahead is set to see Indian travellers broaden their horizons, with strong interest in emerging and offbeat destinations alongside established favourites. Ease of access through visa-friendly regimes, improved air connectivity and flexible holiday design will continue to influence destination choices. “Overall, travel is evolving towards longer stays, deeper exploration and personalised holidays,” said Kale.
You Might Also Like:
ET reported in November that overseas destinations such as Moscow, Vietnam, South Korea, Georgia, Thailand and Japan, had reported an uptick in Indian arrivals last year with some markets reporting over 40% growth, boosted by relaxed visa requirements in some instances.
Bintan Resorts, an integrated tourism destination on Bintan Island, Riau Islands, Indonesia, that includes 23 resorts along the northern coastline, said looking ahead to 2026, Bintan aims to deepen its engagement with the Indian market through ‘targeted’ collaborations, stronger storytelling and experiences designed to encourage longer stays and repeat visits.”Leisure travel will remain central, while the destination also sharpens its focus on MICE and weddings, supported by purpose-built venues and resort-led event infrastructure,” the integrated tourism destination said in a statement.
This year, AI will fundamentally reshape how travellers plan and experience journeys, said Arun Vishnu, general manager at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Pune. “We are already seeing a shift where itineraries are no longer built around fixed attractions, but around personal preferences-the pace of travel, wellness needs, culinary interests, and even emotional intent,” said Vishnu.
You Might Also Like:
“While iconic destinations will always have relevance, there is growing curiosity for lesser-explored locations and hyper-local experiences. For hotels, this means evolving beyond accommodation into intelligent experience partners, and using data and technology to anticipate needs, personalise stays, and curate moments that feel effortless, and intuitive,” he added.
SD Nandakumar, president and country head for holidays and corporate tours at SOTC Travel, said looking ahead, travel this year will be increasingly shaped by experience-led decision-making and greater flexibility.
“Travellers are moving away from fixed itineraries towards curated, purpose-driven journeys that combine leisure with culture, spirituality, nature and personal interests,” he said. “We expect continued momentum for short-lead planning, customised holidays and multi-theme trips, alongside sustained interest in spiritual and culturally rooted travel supported by improving infrastructure and connectivity,” he added.
Value of trips will no longer be defined by prices alone, but by convenience, inclusivity, and the quality of experiences offered, said Jurgen Bailom, president and CEO of Waterways Leisure Tourism (Cordelia Cruises).
You Might Also Like:
“As we look ahead to 2026, travel decisions are becoming more intentional and experience led. Indian travellers are planning with greater clarity around what they want from a holiday whether it’s wellness, dining, celebration, or meaningful time together,” he said. “Formats that simplify travel while delivering multiple experiences in a single journey are gaining strong traction. We expect this preference for curated, and experience-rich holidays to shape the next phase of travel growth in India.”
