Imagine crying into your pillow one night, and by morning, you’re hiking through Spiti, fossil-hunting with strangers who’ve also recently deleted someone from their lives. In the new age of travel therapy, your relationship status is a reason for a curated vacation. From “break-up retreats” to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara-style pub crawls in Madrid, travel companies are offering itineraries tailored to emotions.

With 65% of India’s population under 35, young people have become the primary drivers of travel trends. And as Gen Z and millennials swap therapist couches for airplane seats, the travel industry is cashing in on every mood swing. 

But while “me-time” is now synonymous with “me-travel,” the bigger question remains: is a passport stamp enough to patch emotional wounds?

Why Emotions Now Dictate Travel Plans

Gone are the days when travel was about ticking off monuments. Now it’s about ticking off emotional recovery and getting Instagram content along the way. Govind Gaur, CEO of WanderOn, confirms this emotional mapping of itineraries, saying, “They need stories, visuals, feelings, and moments to share.” His company curates everything from break-up getaways to reel-worthy trips under Himachal’s star-lit skies.

In a post-pandemic world where wellness and escapism have merged, travel companies have turned your trauma into their turnover. Vikas Katoch, CEO of Adotrip, says their curated group trips go “beyond traditional itineraries” and are designed for purpose and excitement. Whether it’s a heartbreak or a quarter-life crisis, there’s a package waiting with open arms and an early bird discount.

Me Time ≠ Must Travel

In today’s digital age, the concept of self-care has been wrapped tightly in wanderlust. But is travel the only answer to solitude or healing? Not really. “People often confuse movement with recovery,” says Delhi-based clinical psychologist Dr. Swati Tandon. “Travel gives temporary relief, but not necessarily emotional closure.” Still, for many, it feels easier to cry in a kayak in Langkawi than in their own bedroom.

Social media only fuels the illusion. The pressure to post “healing reels” from Bali rather than seeking quietude at home has turned emotional expression into a performance. And let’s face it, a beach selfie gets more likes than a therapy check-in. The visual economy of Instagram demands aesthetics, and travel gives you just that.

Bollywood’s Role

The film industry has long been the influencer-in-chief of travel trends. From Dil Chahta Hai’s Goa to Tamasha’s Corsica and ZNMD’s Spain, Bollywood has dramatised escapism and heartbreak-healing vacations to cinematic perfection. And today’s itineraries mimic these emotional arcs, complete with adventure sports and spiritual detours.

Travel companies are aware of this Bollywood blueprint. Thomas Cook India’s Neeraj Singh Dev says packages are now built around “concerts, pop culture references, and filming locations.” The idea is to live the movie you once cried to, only now, you’re the main character with a ticket to healing and a GoPro.

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Gen Z’s Travel Bug

While clubbing in Ibiza and pub-hopping in Madrid might make headlines, what’s surprising is Gen Z’s parallel interest in pilgrimage. According to SOTC Travel, the average customer age has dropped by nearly 10 years post-pandemic, and spiritual packages like Char Dham and Ayodhya are seeing growing demand. 12% of Char Dham’s early bookings were from Gen Z alone.

This duality of bar marathons and bhajan circuits shows that young Indians aren’t just chasing adrenaline, but also meaning. Whether it’s donning a Hanbok in Seoul or seeking moksha in Dwarka, the new-age traveller wants it all: content, culture, and catharsis. As MP Bezbaruah of the Hotel Association of India puts it, “Hotels are reinventing themselves with eco-stays, wellness retreats and tech-first services,” anticipating that by 2030, 83% of their guests will be millennials and Gen Z.

The Business Of Heartbreak

Make no mistake, this isn’t just emotional healing, it’s strategic monetisation. From Rs 52,000 Krabi tours to Kuala Lumpur packages bundled with ATV rides and nightlife, the emotional economy is thriving. Travel companies have turned sentiments into a sales funnel, where every personal milestone, even sad ones, is a commercial opportunity.

Hospitality is also riding the wave. With the market share for millennial and Gen Z travellers set to dominate by 2030, the hospitality sector is customising its operations. Think late breakfasts, check-ins at the bar, and drunches that double as therapy. According to a McKinsey report, India’s travel and tourism market is expected to reach $125 billion by 2027, thanks to this emotion-driven travel boom.

A Suitcase Might Carry Grief, But Can It Unpack Healing?

The next time your heart breaks, your phone won’t just dial your best friend, it may buzz with travel notifications and early bird discounts. And while travelling does help you disconnect, reset, and even rediscover, let’s not forget: heartbreak may fly economy, but healing takes its own route.

So yes, pack your bags, book that scenic getaway, and eat your feelings under foreign skies, but also ask yourself, are you running from something or to something? Because while travel may offer the perfect backdrop for a reel, real peace sometimes needs more than just a good view.

Images: Google Images

Sources: Economic Times, Times of India, CNN

Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi

This post is tagged under: breakup retreats, gen z travel, emotional tourism, instagram travel trends, bollywood travel influence, healing through travel, millennials exploring, post pandemic tourism, travel therapy, curated travel packages, spiritual travel gen z, solo trips india, hospitality trends 2025

Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.

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Goibibo’s data from 50,000 verified student bookings via its Student GoPass program since January 2025 reveals key gender-based travel trends among Indian students. While both male and female students are digital-first and budget-conscious, the report highlights notable differences in travel choices and payment behavior.

Female students show a stronger preference for flights, likely due to safety and time efficiency, while male students lean more towards budget-friendly ground transport like buses and trains. Payment modes also vary subtly between genders, indicating unique priorities and comfort levels when booking travel.

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Female students in India are more likely to choose air travel over buses and trains, with 36% of them booking domestic flights compared to just 23% of male students, according to Goibibo’s Student GoPass data. Safety and time efficiency are likely key factors influencing this preference. On the other hand, half of the male students (50%) opt for ground transport such as buses and trains, while only 34% of female students do the same.

The gender divide in travel preferences is mirrored in device and payment choices as well. Over one in three female students reportedly use an iPhone, versus just one in four male students. In terms of payments, UPI is the top choice for both, but more so for women (71%) than men (64%). This suggests a stronger reliance on seamless and secure digital payments among women.

Interestingly, female students are far less likely to use “pay later” options—50% less than their male counterparts—indicating a more cautious and planned approach to spending. This aligns with broader behavior patterns suggesting that women prioritize convenience, security, and control in their travel planning.

Goibibo’s CMO Raj Rishi Singh summarized it well, stating, “The female student traveller is digitally savvy, deliberate in her choices, and values both convenience and safety.” He emphasized that despite the gender-based differences, both male and female students remain value-conscious—a trait central to the GoPass program’s growing popularity among India’s young travelers.

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