India’s appetite for travel remained unstoppable in 2025, and the year-end holiday rush only underlined that momentum. As Christmas festivities lit up cities and New Year plans took shape, Indian travellers hit the road in large numbers—splitting their time between beach escapes, cultural breaks, and spiritually inclined journeys.
According to MakeMyTrip’s latest year-end booking trends report, Thailand emerged as the most-booked international destination for Indian travellers in 2025, overtaking the UAE, while Goa retained its crown as the country’s most popular domestic leisure hotspot.
Based on bookings for travel between December 20, 2025, and January 5, 2026, the data offers a revealing snapshot of how Indians travelled during the festive season. From destination choices to spending patterns, the trends highlight shifting preferences—and a few surprises—compared to the same period last year.
Indian Travellers Spend More on Comfort in 2025
One of the clearest shifts this year was a growing preference for better-quality stays. MakeMyTrip data shows a rise in hotel and homestay bookings priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,500 per night, while demand in the lower Rs 2,500–Rs 5,000 range declined slightly. The trend points to travellers prioritising upgraded amenities, comfort, and overall experience over budget stays.
Leisure Travel Leads, Spiritual Trips Gain Ground
Leisure travel continued to dominate year-end bookings, though its share dipped marginally. In 2025, leisure trips accounted for 75.3% of bookings, down from 77.1% in 2024. At the same time, spiritual travel gained momentum, rising to 24.8%, up from 22.9% last year—highlighting how more Indians are using the New Year break for faith-driven journeys alongside vacations.
Goa
Goa, Jaipur, and Udaipur Lead Domestic Leisure Travel
On the domestic front, Goa once again emerged as the most-booked leisure destination, followed by Jaipur and Udaipur, underlining the enduring appeal of beaches and heritage cities. Hill stations remained popular choices as well, with destinations such as Manali, Munnar, Darjeeling, Ooty, Mussoorie, and Mysore featuring prominently in the top 10.
Top 10 Domestic Leisure Destinations in 2025
Faith-Focused Travel Finds Its Moment
Spiritual destinations saw a major uptick during the festive window. Cities such as Puri, Varanasi, Madurai, Rameswaram, Amritsar, Ayodhya, Ujjain, Dwarka, Udupi, and Tirupati attracted large numbers of travellers looking to blend holidays with devotion.
Kerala Tops Domestic Holiday Packages
For travellers opting for curated holiday packages within India, Kerala led the charts, followed by Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andaman, and Tamil Nadu—destinations known for offering a balanced mix of nature, culture, and relaxation.
Kerala
Top 5 Domestic Holiday Package Destinations
Thailand Becomes Indians’ Favourite International Getaway
Internationally, Thailand emerged as the most-booked destination for Indian travellers in 2025, pushing the UAE to second place, which had topped the list last year. Vietnam and Cambodia followed closely, while Singapore and Indonesia completed the top five. Easy visa processes, strong flight connectivity, and competitive travel costs helped drive demand for these destinations.
Thailand
Top 5 International Holiday Package Destinations
Year-End Travel in 2025: Comfort, Choice, and Purpose
From choosing premium stays to balancing leisure with spirituality, the year-end travel trends of 2025 show Indian travellers becoming more selective, experience-driven, and intentional. Whether it was Goa’s beaches at home or Thailand’s allure abroad, Indians made the most of the festive break—travelling smarter, better, and with clear purpose.
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