From family trips to solo escapes: Here's how millennials and Gen Z are reshaping India's travel landscape in 2025

Booking.com reveals how Millennials & Gen Z are reshaping India’s travel in 2025—from family getaways to solo escapes and mindful cultural journeys. (Image: Canva)

Travel today is no longer just about ticking destinations off a list—it’s about building connections, creating lasting memories, and indulging in experiences that matter. For Indian travellers, the journey itself has become as important as the destination, with younger generations leading this transformation.

Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, are redefining the way India explores the world by prioritizing mindfulness, value, and shared adventures over traditional sightseeing. They are seeking deeper connections—whether it’s travelling with family and friends, immersing themselves in local cultures, or choosing experiences that align with their values like sustainability and wellness.

Booking.com’s latest insights highlight that these travellers are not only spending more on holidays but also making conscious choices about how, where, and with whom they travel. From solo escapes and culinary journeys to mindful indulgences and group getaways, Millennials and Gen Z are setting new trends that reflect a desire for both discovery and meaningful connection.

“Today’s Indian traveller is driven by a desire for meaningful connection. This is a behavioural shift that's redefining what a journey is, whether it's for the 68% of Gen Z planning solo trips to recharge or the 92% of Gen Z parents covering vacation costs for their families. They are balancing the thrill of discovery with the comfort of companionship. Travel is more than just about reaching a destination; it's about investing in memories with your loved ones, something that is reflected across all generations. Booking.com is committed to empowering every traveller to find their perfect, personalised journey.” said Santosh Kumar, Regional Manager, South Asia at Booking.com.

Family, Friends & Beyond: The New Travel Companions

Indian travellers are reshaping the way they journey together, with millennials strengthening family bonds and Gen Z widening the circle to include parents, partners and friends.

● Family first: 62% of Indian millennials prefer travelling with their immediate family (spouse/children), higher than the APAC average of 53%.
● Paying it forward: A majority of travellers are willing to cover trip costs for their loved ones. 89% of millennials and 88% of Gen Z are willing to pay for a partner’s, parent’s trip or their children’ trip.
● Friendship journeys: The circle is widening with 83% of Gen Z are willing to pay for friends’ holidays, compared to 75% of millennials and 58% of Gen X.
● Responsible travellers: 92% of Gen Z parents have paid for vacations (fully/partly) for their family, ahead of millennials (84%), Gen X (71%) and Baby Boomers (66%).
These insights highlight how modern travel is deeply rooted in connection, care and shared experiences.

Smart Splurges: Balancing Indulgence with Mindfulness

While Indian travellers across generations are showing a rising appetite for travel spend compared to their APAC counterparts - yet they remain sharply mindful of value and budgeting.

● Spending surge: 42% of millennials and 89% of Gen Z in India plan to spend more on travel this year, above the 24% APAC average.
● Gen X steps up: 35% of Indian Gen X expect to increase travel spend—more than double the 15% APAC average.
● Splurge for memories: 65% of millennials and 57% of Gen Z admit they’d “lavishly blow their budget” for a truly unforgettable holiday.
● Mindful choices: 82% of Gen Z and 88% of millennials say travel is a priority, but they are careful to find the best options within their budget.
● Pocket-sized adventures: Both millennials (77%) and Gen Z (70%) believe taking multiple short trips is a smarter use of budget than one long holiday, reflecting a desire for more frequent getaways.

Curiosity Meets Comfort: Adventure with Assurance

Indian travellers are blending the desire for adventure with the need for safety and familiarity—seeking experiences that balance wellness, culture, and safety.

● Solo escapes: 68% of Gen Z and 65% of millennials plan solo trips to relax and recharge.
● Motivations differ: Gen Z are motivated by adventure (46%) and food (45%), while millennials lead towards cuisine (50%), cultural immersion (48%) and adventure (48%).
● Safety first: A top priority for both millennials (72%) and Gen Z (66%) when choosing a destination, followed by value for money (millennials 66%, Gen Z 61%) and good weather (millennials 64%, Gen Z 61%).
● Familiar comfort: The appeal of a trusted destination is strong, with nearly 70% of both generations planning to revisit a place they already know.

Redefining Travel: Experiences Over Itineraries

Indians across generations are making travel a mindful priority, seeking value through multiple shorter escapes and unforgettable experiences. Balancing new adventures with the reassurance of safety, culture and familiarity, they see journeys not just as trips but as investments in connection and meaningful discovery. Millennials and Gen Z see travel as an investment in connection, culture, and discovery. By choosing meaningful experiences, balancing splurges with mindfulness, and blending adventure with safety, they are shaping the future of travel for generations to come.

Millennials and Gen Z see travel as an investment in connection, culture, and discovery. By choosing meaningful experiences, balancing splurges with mindfulness, and blending adventure with safety, they are shaping the future of travel for generations to come.

Methodology

Insights are based on Booking.com’s Travel Trends 2025 research, conducted among 32,106 respondents across 32 markets (including 1,800 from India) in January 2025, and Travel Predictions 2025 research, which surveyed 27,713 respondents across 33 countries (1,002 from India) between July–August 2024.