3 short trips instead of one holiday? That's how Gen Z wants to travel

India's Gen Z travellers are increasingly opting for multiple short vacations, spontaneous getaways and personalised experiences over traditional long annual holidays, according to a report.

Airbnb, in its latest report titled "Never the Same: The New Rules of Gen Z Travel in India", highlighted that seven out of 10 Gen Z travellers prefer taking three short trips instead of one long holiday, while 87% favour vacations lasting less than a week.

The report found that travel has become an important form of self-expression for young Indians.

"Travel for Gen Z is as much an act of self-expression as it is exploration and that makes them the most intentional, most engaged travellers we've seen," Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb Country Head for India and Southeast Asia, said.

"The defining thing about this generation isn't how often they travel. It's why -- to feel most like themselves. What we're seeing at Airbnb is a generation for whom travel has become the most personal decision they make," he added.

The report showed that 95% of Gen Z respondents want their trips to feel personal and unique rather than typical or pre-planned, while 90% said they actively seek destinations that have not gone viral on social media or been widely recommended online.

Airbnb said searches by Indian Gen Z travellers for the summer travel season rose more than 30% year-on-year, with domestic trips lasting between two and six nights emerging as the fastest-growing travel format, registering nearly 80% growth.

The study also highlighted the growing importance of accommodation in travel decisions.

About 63% of respondents said they had chosen a destination specifically because of a stay they discovered, while 82% described accommodation as very or extremely important when planning a trip.

More than half of Gen Z travellers said where they stay either shapes the entire experience or becomes the highlight of the trip, the report said.

The findings further indicated that travel is increasingly viewed as a social activity, with three out of four respondents saying who they travel with matters more than where they go.

Friends emerged as the most common travel companions, followed by family members.

More than half of those surveyed said they preferred staying together in a shared home rather than booking separate hotel rooms when travelling in groups.

Airbnb said group trips by Indian Gen Z travellers on its platform have increased by nearly 55% domestically over the past year, making them the fastest-growing travel category.

The report also found that Gen Z travellers are embracing flexible itineraries and slower travel experiences.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they intentionally leave parts of their travel plans unstructured to allow for exploration, while around the same proportion said they sometimes travel simply to rest, slow down or do nothing.

Nature and slow travel emerged as the most preferred travel experiences among respondents, followed by food exploration and adventure activities.

According to Airbnb, the findings suggest a departure from rigid itineraries and destination-centric travel towards experiences centred on personal identity, meaningful connections and spontaneity.