Indian travel trends 2025: Solo trips rise, adventure surges and Asia still dominates

ICICI Lombard General Insurance unveiled its inaugural travel trends study, the ‘WanderSafe Report 2025’. Conducted in partnership with Hansa Research, the report captures insights from Indian international travellers.

The study reveals emerging travel behaviours, evolving perceptions of travel insurance, and noteworthy patterns across metro cities and Tier 1 towns.

The survey, which included perspectives from Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X travellers (63% male, 37% female), indicates a strong overall preference for Asian destinations, supported by convenient visa processes and improved connectivity. North America continues to hold significant appeal as well.

The study also highlights clear generational differences, with younger travellers, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, showing greater interest in long-haul destinations such as Australia and Europe/UK compared to Gen X.

According to the WanderSafe Report 2025, overall awareness of travel insurance in India is high, with nearly 88% of travellers reporting familiarity, driven by recent disruptions such as flight delays, climate events, and global conflicts.

The report also highlights a major digital shift, with digital-first journeys and embedded insurance solutions becoming increasingly common, and consumers now expecting flexible, personalised, and on-demand protection that fits seamlessly into their travel planning.

Anand Singhi , Chief Retail & Government Business, ICICI Lombard, said "Indian travellers today are exploring the world with greater confidence, purpose and independence - and they expect the same from their protection.”

Indians are travelling more, Asia leads the way

• 63% of Indian outbound travellers preferred Asia as their top destination, with Thailand, Japan, and Singapore leading the choice due to easier visa processes and strong air connectivity.

• Nearly half of Indian travellers (48%) indicated that Asia would be their destination for their next international trip.

• North America, particularly the USA, emerged as the second-most preferred region, reflecting growing interest in long-haul travel.

Younger travellers are exploring farther

• Gen Z and Millennials show a stronger preference for long-haul destinations like Australia and Europe/UK, in contrast to Gen X, who largely prefer nearby destinations.

• Australia is emerging as a rising favourite, especially among Gen Y travellers, with 48% planning trips, outpacing Gen X.

• These trends indicate a growing appetite for experiential and exploration-focused travel beyond traditional short-haul routes.

Travel preferences are evolving

• A majority of travellers (64%) prefer to travel with spouses, partners, or friends, reflecting the social nature of modern travel.

• Gen Z is redefining norms: they are 3x more likely to travel solo and 4x more likely to travel with colleagues, blending work and leisure (bleisure travel).

• These behaviours suggest that travellers are seeking independence, flexibility, and authentic experiences over conventional itineraries.

Trips are becoming more purposeful

• Almost two-thirds of Indian travellers (64%) prefer international trips lasting up to two weeks, while families with children opting for longer getaways.

• Experience-first travel is booming: adventure sports, multi-country trips, water sports, and cultural exploration are increasingly popular.

• Gen Z leads the adventure trend: 62% plan to engage in adventure sports on their next trip, and 50% are likely to rent vehicles, demonstrating a preference for flexibility and self-curated experiences.

Planning is digital

• 60% of travellers book independently or through Online Travel Agency (OTAs), reflecting growing digital confidence.

• Nevertheless, 30% still rely on travel agents, especially for convenience, guided experiences, or complex itineraries.

• Gen X travellers are 2.6x more likely to rely on others—often their children—to plan and book trips, highlighting generational differences in digital adoption.

• 41% of travellers reported challenges related to visas, logistics, and clarity of insurance coverage, showing that digital confidence does not fully eliminate friction in travel planning.

Travel insurance awareness is rising

• Overall awareness of travel insurance is high (88%), but detailed understanding and purchase intent lag.

• Among travellers with low purchase intent, 49% cited lack of awareness, 34% cited cost concerns, and 21% felt it was not beneficial, with others citing difficulty in policy purchase.

• Post-pandemic, 64% of travellers actively search for travel insurance, up from 54% in pre-pandemic years, reflecting growing recognition of the importance of protection.

• Travellers associate insurance with key protections: accidental death, hospitalization, flight cancellations, baggage loss, and coverage for adventure activities.

• Top claims include medical expenses, trip cancellations, delays, baggage loss, and loss of travel documents, with common claim rejections due to policy exclusions, deductibles, or unmet conditions.

These trends reflect a growing desire for safety, customisation and convenience, especially among younger travellers who expect seamless, tech-enabled protection.