No Wi-Fi, more wellness: Indian travellers are rewriting their holiday plans for 2027

Indian travellers are planning more international holidays in 2027, with wellness, cultural experiences, digital disconnection and value for money influencing their choices, according to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2027 report.

The report found that 58 per cent of Indians plan to travel abroad more in 2027. While 56 per cent intend to spend more on flights and 44 per cent on accommodation, 67 per cent have changed or considered changing a holiday destination because another option offered better value.

Based on a OnePoll survey of 2,000 Indian respondents conducted in July 2026, alongside Skyscanner’s proprietary data, the report identifies seven trends expected to influence travel decisions in the coming year.


Neel Ghose, Travel Trends and Destinations Expert at Skyscanner India, said: “Indian travellers are entering 2027 with a stronger appetite to explore, but they are also becoming more considered about how they spend their time and money. We’re seeing a shift from simply choosing where to go towards thinking more carefully about the experience they want from a trip, whether that is switching off, discovering something new, staying active or getting better value.”

Travel trends shaping Indian holidays in 2027

1. Signal Severance: Digital disconnection

Many Indians find it difficult to stop checking their phones on holiday. The report found that 43 per cent need time to disconnect, while 23 per cent switch off immediately. However, 75 per cent said they would feel more connected to nature without their phones. Pokhara in Nepal, Agatti in India and Phu Quoc in Vietnam recorded increases of 166 per cent, 157 per cent and 133 per cent, respectively, in flight searches.

2. Pilgra-merch: Travel for exclusive purchases

Around 80 per cent of Indian respondents had visited a specific destination or store to buy an item available only there. The trend was particularly prominent among Generation Z, at 84 per cent, and millennials, at 82 per cent. Nearly half, or 49 per cent, were willing to fly for three to six hours to purchase an exclusive product.

3. Sten Do Surge: Joint pre-wedding celebrations

Traditional separate stag and hen parties are giving way to shared celebrations. The report found that 73 per cent of Indian travellers preferred joint pre-wedding celebrations or a combination of shared and separate events. Fun, spending more time together, convenience and cost savings were the main reasons.

4. Grand Odysseys: History-inspired journeys

History and mythology are influencing destination choices. Around 89 per cent of respondents said historical events, classical stories or myths had inspired their travel plans. Historical figures influenced 61 per cent, architectural wonders 57 per cent and mythological legends 52 per cent.

5. Gymcation: Fitness-focused holidays

Wellness is becoming a factor in hotel selection. The report found that 91 per cent of Indian respondents were likely to book a hotel offering breakfast options designed to support nutritional and fitness goals. Meanwhile, 53 per cent actively looked for fitness facilities when choosing accommodation.

6. Sound Bound: Music-led travel

Music festivals and unusual performance venues are encouraging travellers to explore new destinations. Around 43 per cent preferred carnival experiences, while 38 per cent were interested in venues such as caves, pyramids and volcanoes. Music genre remained the biggest consideration, cited by 27 per cent of respondents.

7. Currency Chasers: Value-driven destination choices

Exchange rates are influencing overseas holiday decisions. Around 69 per cent of respondents always or often considered currency strength when booking trips, while 67 per cent had changed or considered changing destinations to find better value.

Trending destinations and lower airfares

Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan recorded the largest increase in flight searches among the destinations listed, at 748 per cent, followed by Rupsi in India at 502 per cent and Okinawa in Japan at 279 per cent. Malvan in India recorded a 258 per cent increase.

For travellers seeking lower airfares, Jaisalmer recorded a 43 per cent decline in economy-class return flight prices, followed by Tashkent in Uzbekistan at 30 per cent, Kozhikode at 29 per cent and Jodhpur at 25 per cent.

The rankings compare flight searches and economy-class return airfares between 1 January and 17 June 2026 with the corresponding period in 2025, for travel throughout 2026.

Also read: Indians are going off-grid but not off-budget: 7 travel trends to watch in 2027

AI enters travel planning

Technology is also influencing how Indians research and book holidays. The report found that 87 per cent of respondents were confident using artificial intelligence for travel planning and bookings. More than half planned to use AI for destination research, while one in two used it to compare flights, accommodation and prices.

Social media remained a major source of inspiration, with YouTube cited by 78 per cent of respondents and Instagram by 69 per cent. Around 30 per cent were already using AI chatbots and tools for travel ideas.

The findings indicate that Indian travellers continue to prioritise holidays while paying closer attention to costs, exchange rates and the experiences available at each destination.