How India Traveled in 2025: What the Data Shows

Key Points

• Indian outbound travel in 2025 was heavily influenced by diplomatic relations, with travelers favoring countries friendly to India and avoiding those with strained ties.
• Domestic travel surged, driven by faith-based tourism around festivals and increased interest in destinations highlighted by pop culture.
• Travel industry developments included Kenya’s India-focused marketing push, Brij Hotels' new resort in Sindhudurg, RedBus launching a B2B marketplace, and couples leading hotel bookings for Republic Day.

Summary

In 2025, Indian travel patterns were shaped by the strength of diplomatic ties, with tourists favoring nations with positive relations with India and shunning destinations perceived as unfriendly. Outbound tourism saw significant growth to countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Japan, while arrivals to the U.S., Maldives, and Azerbaijan declined due to political tensions. Domestically, faith-based and pop culture-driven travel surged, particularly to spiritual destinations and the Northeast. The industry also saw key developments, including Kenya’s targeted social media strategy for Indian travelers, Brij Hotels’ expansion in Maharashtra, RedBus launching a B2B marketplace, and couples emerging as the top segment for hotel bookings during the Republic Day weekend.