Travel Trends
Outbound Travel Trends Jan–June 2025, Forecast, Preferences, and Zonal Insights
• India witnessed a record-breaking surge in outbound travel in the first half of 2025.• Over 9.2 million Indians travelled abroad in the first six months—up by 11% YoY.• Growth is driven by visa relaxations, increased air connectivity, and rising disposable incomes, especially among Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities.• A significant shift is seen in Gen Z and millennial preferences toward short-haul, experience-centric destinations.🌏 Top Destinations (Overall) Rank Country Reason for Popularity 1. UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)Shopping, leisure, luxury, family activities
2. Thailand Beaches, nightlife, budget travel
3. Vietnam Visa-free entry, scenic nature, culture
4. Singapore Family travel, theme parks, cleanliness
5. Indonesia (Bali)Wellness, couples, weddings, yoga retreats
6 Saudi ArabiaSpiritual tourism (Umrah, religious circuits)
7 Japan Spring travel (sakura), youth fascination with anime
8 Maldives Luxury resorts, honeymooners, eco-conscious travel
9 Turkey Istanbul’s popularity, visa-on-arrival option
10 Australia Long-haul boom from metros, education & leisure
Zone-wise Preferences (Jan–June 2025)
North India (Delhi, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan, Haryana)•
Top Picks: UAE, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey• Trends:• High demand for family holidays & spiritual tours (esp. Umrah from UP).• Increasing luxury demand from Delhi & Chandigarh for Europe, Maldives.• Religious travel to Israel, Saudi Arabia & Jordan is gaining momentum.
South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra)
• Top Picks: Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia• Trends:• Growth in family travel, cruise bookings, and student tourism.• Bengaluru and Hyderabad emerging as high-spend source markets.• Kerala & Tamil Nadu show strong interest in eco-tourism and cultural experiences.• Surge in Japan & South Korea interest (pop culture & anime influence).
West India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, MP)•
Top Picks: Dubai, Thailand, Maldives, Australia, Vietnam• Trends:• Mumbai shows strong demand for short luxury getaways.• Gujarat-based families lean toward group tours and packages.• Goa travelers exploring Bali, Sri Lanka, and Greece.• Australia and South Africa show increasing MICE and long-haul bookings.
🟣 East India (West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand)•
Top Picks: Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia•
Trends:• Preference for budget-friendly and visa-free options.• Kolkata leads outbound numbers from this region.• Increasing traction for Vietnam due to affordable experiences.• Growing curiosity about South Korea & Japan among students and youth.
Central India & Tier 2/3 Towns
• Trend: Surge in outbound numbers from cities like Indore, Surat, Nagpur, Lucknow, Jaipur, Coimbatore.• Popular for group packages and honeymoon travel to Bali, Dubai, Thailand.• These markets are price-sensitive but show growing appetite for unique experiences.
Segment-wise Travel Behavior
Segment Preferences Gen Z & Millennials Spontaneous travel, short trips, adventure, Instagrammable spots (e.g., Japan, Bali, South Korea)Honeymooners & Couples Maldives, Bali, Mauritius, Greece Families Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand
Spiritual Travellers: Saudi Arabia (Umrah), Jordan, Israel, Nepal
Luxury Seekers: Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Dubai
Eco & Culture Tourists – Vietnam, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, South Africa
Emerging Trends to Watch (Rest of 2025 Forecast)•
Short-haul destinations will continue booming due to visa ease & airfare costs.•
Digital nomads & remote workers increasingly eye Bali, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Conscious tourism (sustainability, slow travel) gaining traction among urban Gen Z.
• Faith-based tourism (Umrah, Israel pilgrimages) to grow further.•
Experiential family packages (theme parks, edutainment) in demand.
Conclusion
India’s outbound travel market in H1 2025 demonstrates resilient, high-paced growth, with travelers becoming more experience-driven, digitally spontaneous, and regionally diverse in their preferences. The second half of the year is expected to break further records—especially with the festive and winter travel season ahead.
Travel Trends
Indian Travellers Pick Bali, Dubai this Summer: What OYO’s 2025 Report Reveals – outlookbusiness.com
Travel Trends
Carnival Corporation joins the American Gaming Association as the first cruise line member
MIAMI – Carnival Corporation & plc announced its membership in the American Gaming Association (AGA), becoming the first cruise operator to join the nation’s leading trade group, which represents the U.S. casino industry.
With this historic membership, Carnival Corporation further deepens its longstanding commitment to upholding the highest standards of compliance, including anti-money laundering initiatives and responsible gaming practices.
“Joining the American Gaming Association is an important step in advancing our industry leadership and ensuring we remain at the forefront of responsible gaming and regulatory best practices,” said Marty Goldman, Senior Vice President of Global Gaming at Carnival Corporation. “This partnership opens new avenues for collaboration and knowledge-sharing that will directly benefit our guests, team members and the broader Carnival Corporation organization.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Carnival Corporation to the American Gaming Association. As a global leader in leisure travel and entertainment, they not only bring a unique perspective to our membership but also deepen our network through longstanding partnerships with several existing AGA members,” said Maureen Beddis, Senior Vice President of Membership and Events at the American Gaming Association. “Their commitment to delivering world-class gaming experiences at sea complements our efforts to promote innovation, collaboration, and responsible gaming across the industry. We look forward to working together to strengthen our collective impact.”
As a core operator member, Carnival Corporation will have the opportunity to collaborate with land-based and online casino operators and gaming suppliers across the U.S. to gain valuable knowledge and insights to support the company’s business objectives. As AGA members, Carnival Corporation leaders and team members will also have access to a wide range of benefits, including:
- Industry-Exclusive Data and Resources: Members-only webinars and research on regulatory trends, responsible gaming and more, helping them stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry
- Professional Development: Exclusive programming such as educational webinars, legislative updates and best practices around compliance and responsible gaming
- Networking and Collaboration: Opportunities to engage with leaders from commercial and tribal casinos, sports betting and iGaming companies, and gaming suppliers, expanding the company’s industry connections and influence
- Advocacy and Policy Support: AGA’s advocacy tools and legislative intelligence to help follow and shape industry policy
As part of the AGA, Carnival Corporation earns a seat at the table for national conversations, learning from and contributing to developments in gaming regulation, responsible gaming initiatives and policy advocacy. This partnership allows corporate leaders and team members to stay at the forefront of industry trends, access cutting-edge data and participate in events and committees that shape the future of gaming.
The article Carnival Corporation joins the American Gaming Association as the first cruise line member first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.
Travel Trends
BCD Travel and Oversee partner to implement agentic AI for scalable, traveler-centric service
UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS – BCD Travel, one of the world’s leading corporate travel management companies, and Oversee, a travel technology company specializing in AI-powered spend optimization and agent operations, announced the expansion of their partnership. This move will scale Oversee’s agentic AI technology across BCD’s operational environment, following a successful multi-customer pilot focused on automating email-based service requests.
This partnership positions BCD as a future-ready TMC: blending technology and talent to transform service delivery, increase operational resilience and deliver a consistently high-quality experience for travelers and travel agents.
“At BCD, we’re continuously evolving to meet the needs of today’s business travelers,” said Yannis Karmis, Senior Vice President of Product Planning & Development at BCD. “Our partnership with Oversee aligns with our strategic focus on digital transformation, allowing us to automate intelligently while maintaining the personal service travelers expect.”
“We’re proud to partner with BCD to bring agentic AI into real-world operations,” said Aviel Siman-Tov, CEO and co-founder of Oversee. “Our agentic AI solution has been purpose-built to support the unique workflows of TMCs. Together with BCD, we’re proving how AI can enhance – not replace – the human side of travel management.”
Aviel Siman-Tov, CEO and co-founder, Oversee
Oversee’s agentic AI technology supports travel agents by automating repetitive tasks – such as booking requests, exchanges and shell PNR creation – enabling agents to focus on more complex service and support requests. Through this solution, BCD has improved agent workflows and increased SLA adherence across pilot markets.
The goal is not just speed, but quality, ensuring travelers receive fast, accurate responses 24/7, globally – without losing human touch.
In today’s rapidly evolving travel environment, BCD is taking bold steps to scale smartly – without compromising traveler care. By investing in AI-powered solutions, BCD is redefining the role of travel agents and building a service model designed for long-term agility and efficiency.
This partnership reflects a shared vision between BCD and Oversee: to build foundational AI capabilities that streamline global operations, empower travel agents, and elevate traveler satisfaction. As BCD continues to scale its service offering, this agentic AI platform will serve as a core enabler – delivering automation that’s fast, accurate, and globally scalable.
The article BCD Travel and Oversee partner to implement agentic AI for scalable, traveler-centric service first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.
-
The Travel Revolution of Our Era3 weeks ago
‘AI is undeniably reshaping the core structure of the hospitality ecosystem’: Venu G Somineni
-
Brand Stories1 week ago
The Smart Way to Stay: How CheQin.AI Is Flipping Hotel Booking in Your Favor
-
Mergers & Acquisitions7 days ago
How Elon Musk’s rogue Grok chatbot became a cautionary AI tale
-
Brand Stories2 weeks ago
Voice AI Startup ElevenLabs Plans to Add Hubs Around the World
-
Mergers & Acquisitions1 week ago
Amazon weighs further investment in Anthropic to deepen AI alliance
-
Asia Travel Pulse2 weeks ago
Looking For Adventure In Asia? Here Are 7 Epic Destinations You Need To Experience At Least Once – Zee News
-
Mergers & Acquisitions1 week ago
UK crime agency arrests 4 people over cyber attacks on retailers
-
AI in Travel2 weeks ago
‘Will AI take my job?’ A trip to a Beijing fortune-telling bar to see what lies ahead | China
-
Mergers & Acquisitions2 weeks ago
ChatGPT — the last of the great romantics
-
Mergers & Acquisitions1 week ago
EU pushes ahead with AI code of practice
You must be logged in to post a comment Login