India’s Travel Insights: Scapia’s 2025 Insights Show The New Era Of Frequent, Flexible And Experience-led Journeys

Published on December 28, 2025

The most recent travel insights of Scapia for the year 2025 are giving us a picture of Indian tourists changing the rules of the travel game. The Indian tourism product is shifting from one holiday per year to several and even more, but this time, it calls for flexibility and experiential living. The scale and worldwide reach of this shift are confirmed by the data which reveals a five-fold increase in air ticketing, eight to nine-fold growth in lodging, and a dizzying rise in card payments through more than one hundred and fifty countries.

Travel Becomes a Mindset for Indians

According to Anil Goteti, Founder & CEO of Scapia, travel in India has evolved from an annual affair to a habitual part of life. Rather than waiting for one big holiday, travellers are now opting for multiple shorter trips throughout the year, with their focus increasingly on experiences that matter to them. This shift is not just a local trend, it’s playing out globally, with Scapia travellers visiting 174 countries in 2025, demonstrating the growing ambition of Indian tourists.

The rise of flexible, experience-driven travel is now spreading beyond metropolitan areas, with people from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities embracing this new mindset. This broadening of participation reflects a significant cultural shift in how Indians approach their travel plans.

The Rise of Frequent, Flexible Travel

2025 marks a definitive shift from the once-a-year holiday model to continuous travel throughout the year. Scapia’s data reveals that travel is no longer concentrated into one long vacation, but spread across multiple short trips, such as weekend getaways, work-enabled stays, and international travel. This flexibility is allowing Indians to explore new destinations frequently, without the constraints of lengthy holiday planning.

Interestingly, domestic travel has seen a rise in less traditional destinations. States like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and remote areas like Ziro, Pakyong and Jagdalpur are now gaining popularity. These offbeat spots, previously overlooked, are now among the fastest-growing destinations for Indian travellers. As urbanites seek to step off the beaten path, the allure of discovering hidden gems within India has never been greater.

Growth Across New Destinations

Globally, Indian tourists are branching out to places like Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Luang Prabang (Laos) and Puerto Princesa (Philippines), reflecting an appetite for international destinations that offer unique experiences. This surge in bookings is not confined to metropolitan areas. Women’s international flight bookings have tripled, and Tier-2 cities have seen over 2.5 times more growth, indicating that the travel wave is now being embraced by smaller cities, too.

Moreover, younger travellers, particularly Gen Z, have become an integral part of this shift, accounting for a significant portion of train and bus bookings. For many, travelling by train or bus to less accessible destinations is a growing preference, offering a more flexible and authentic travel experience. This demographic’s engagement with alternative transport methods, including buses and trains, signals a shift toward a more inclusive and sustainable travel approach.

Multi-modal Travel and Rewards

Multi-modal travel is becoming the default for many Indian tourists, with Scapia’s data highlighting the rising preference for combining flights, trains, buses, and stays into a single itinerary. The flexibility of hopping between transport modes allows travellers to take shorter trips while visiting a variety of destinations in one go.

One of the most exciting developments is the role of Scapia’s rewards system, which has significantly lowered the barrier to frequent travel. Nearly 50 percent of train bookings and 60 percent of bus bookings were made possible through Scapia coins redemptions. By converting everyday spending into travel rewards, Indian tourists are now able to take more trips, making travel an accessible and habitual part of their lives.

This growing trend is reflected in the success of platforms like Scapia, where users are increasingly using their accumulated rewards to fund weekend getaways, making travel less about occasional luxury and more about frequent, repeatable experiences.

Experiences Over City Checklists

Indian travellers are increasingly choosing destinations based on what they can experience rather than just where they can go. From treks in the Himalayas to cultural immersions and festivals, the focus has shifted from ticking off city landmarks to indulging in activities that are meaningful and personal. The idea of experiencing a destination, whether through a local food tour or participating in a cultural festival has replaced the traditional city checklist mentality.

This trend is not only driving growth in international travel but also boosting local tourism. Places like the serene mountains of Sikkim and the cultural richness of Chhattisgarh are being chosen by travellers not just for their picturesque landscapes but also for their experiential value, such as trekking, wildlife safaris, and heritage exploration.

The Future of Indian Travel: What’s Next?

Looking ahead to 2026, Scapia’s outlook reveals even more significant changes in Indian travel. The frequency of travel, rather than the distance, will define the future of Indian tourism. More frequent trips, with three or more travel experiences per year, will become the norm, especially as rewards, faster bookings, and better connectivity make travel more convenient. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities will continue to drive growth, with people increasingly opting for shorter, repeatable trips over the traditional once-a-year holiday.

Shorter, 48–72 hour trips to offbeat destinations will also gain traction, with travellers choosing destinations based on convenience and calendar fit rather than popularity. As travel continues to evolve, destinations will move from aspirational to practical, with easier access and more options for quick, meaningful breaks.

Furthermore, Indian travellers will continue to favour experience-led trips, focusing on what they can do in a destination rather than merely where they can go. Whether it’s a music festival, an adventure sport, or a cultural immersion, the modern traveller’s decision-making process will be guided more by experiences than by traditional destination lists.

Bottom Line

Indian tourism is undergoing a complete transformation. Travel has turned into a never-ending journey, supported by flexible itineraries, reward systems, and a shift towards meaningful experiences. Indian tourists are changing their travel patterns from discovering less popular localities to going worldwide. The states Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and Arunachal Pradesh are experiencing a tourist rush, while the impact of multi-modal travel is making it possible for more people than ever before to see the world in their own special ways.