INDIA OUTBOUND GEARS UP FOR FESTIVE OVERDRIVE

Indian travellers are redefining the outbound landscape. Traditional group tours and fixed itineraries are giving way to curated escapes, experiential journeys, and wellness-led holidays. With Diwali, Christmas, and New Year marking one of the busiest outbound seasons, TTJ turns to leading travel specialists for insights into shifting preferences and emerging trends shaping demand.

- By Prativa Vaidya Bhalla

In a booming outbound market where every global destination is competing for India's attention, innovation has become essential. Fixed holiday calendars and established preferences are yielding to new priorities and aspirations. For travel agents, the challenge is clear: keep pace with shifting mindsets and rising expectations while navigating structural and operational hurdles. In this volatile landscape, relevance depends on real-time innovation and the ability to deliver seamless, memorable experiences.

Seasonal Travel Demands

Bringing a frontline perspective on this festive surge, Vikash Manoharan, CEO, Tour On, observes, “We are witnessing one of the strongest festive seasons for outbound travel since mid-August, with demand not only higher but also more diverse. The good news is that travel enthusiasm among Indians is soaring than ever during Diwali, Christmas, and the New Year. The challenge, however, is that many now prefer to plan independently, supported by the rise of freelance travel creators and new companies offering group tours. This reflects both the growing appetite for travel and the unorganised nature of the sector. While we continue to onboard clients every day, the competition and fragmentation are real, and unless the industry becomes more structured, these challenges could intensify in the next two to three years.”

Akshay Bhandari, Founder, The Travel Temple, echoes a similar trend to say, “We are seeing very strong demand for Christmas holidays, especially to destinations like New Zealand and Africa. While for Diwali, we are witnessing escalating demand for short-haul destinations like Sri Lanka and the Maldives.” The duration of holidays often shapes these choices, with shorter breaks favouring nearby getaways and longer ones encouraging long-haul travel.