MakeMyTrip Reveals Indian Travellers Are Leaving Traditional Tourism Behind for Longer, Niche and Experience-Led Journeys

Written By: Swagata Dey

Swagata Dey

SEO Content Writer with a focus on travel, tourism, and global destination marketing. With 5+ years of experience crafting compelling, SEO-optimized content for leading travel platforms, Swagata bring a deep understanding of travel trends, audience engagement, and destination promotion. Having contributed extensively to Travel and Tour World, Swagata is known for delivering high-quality, search-engine-friendly articles that resonate with both readers and search engines. Specializing in creating narratives that capture the essence of global destinations while maximizing visibility, Swagata blends storytelling with strategic SEO techniques to drive traffic and elevate brand presence in the competitive travel industry.

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September 11, 2026 02:45 GMT+5:30

Image Credit: itb-india.com

MakeMyTrip Reveals Indian Travellers Are Leaving Traditional Tourism Behind for Longer, Niche and Experience-Led Journeys as Indian outbound travel preferences undergo a major transformation driven by deeper exploration, longer holidays and personalised experiences. The reason behind this shift is that travellers are moving beyond traditional tourism focused only on famous cities and popular attractions. According to Amit Shukla, Senior Vice President of MakeMyTrip, Indian travellers are increasingly choosing complex itineraries, exploring niche destinations and prioritising meaningful experiences over conventional sightseeing. During an exclusive interview at ITB India, Shukla highlighted that travel durations are becoming close to 10 days, with destinations such as Finland, Iceland and Mexico gaining attention among experience-seeking travellers. The trend shows how Indian Travellers Are Leaving Traditional Tourism Behind and embracing a new era of Longer, Niche and Experience-Led Journeys shaped by discovery and personalisation.

Why Are Indian Travellers Moving Towards Complex Itineraries Instead of Single Destinations?

Indian outbound travellers are changing their holiday planning patterns by moving away from single-country or single-city trips towards more detailed and multi-destination journeys. According to Amit Shukla, Senior Vice President of MakeMyTrip, this shift represents a major change in how Indian tourists discover international destinations.

“Indians are going and opting for more complex itineraries rather than going to a particular country or particular city,” Shukla explained.

The changing behaviour reflects a growing desire for deeper exploration rather than traditional sightseeing. Travellers are increasingly combining multiple locations within one trip to experience different cultures, landscapes and activities.

This trend indicates that Indian tourism demand is becoming more mature, with visitors looking for personalised journeys instead of standard holiday packages.

How Are Experience-Led Journeys Changing the Future of Indian Outbound Travel?

Indian travellers are increasingly prioritising experiences over conventional tourism attractions. Shukla explained that visitors are no longer satisfied with simply visiting well-known locations and are searching for more meaningful interactions with destinations.

“People are more after experiences rather than traditional locations,” he said.

This shift is encouraging demand for:

• adventure experiences,
• cultural exploration,
• nature-based travel,
• unique local activities,
• personalised itineraries.

Destinations that offer distinctive experiences are becoming more attractive because travellers want memories that go beyond standard sightseeing.

The changing preference also reflects a global travel trend where tourists increasingly value authenticity, discovery and emotional connections with places they visit.

Why Are Indian Tourists Extending Their International Holiday Duration?

One of the strongest trends identified by MakeMyTrip is the increase in travel duration among Indian international travellers.

“The length of stay has become long,” Shukla said.

He explained that international trips are now becoming:

“Very, very close to 10 days at a stretch.”

Longer stays allow travellers to explore multiple destinations and experience more activities during one journey.

This shift benefits tourism destinations because extended stays can increase spending across:

The trend suggests Indian travellers are increasingly willing to invest more time and resources into meaningful international holidays.

Which Niche Destinations Could Benefit From India’s Changing Travel Preferences?

According to Shukla, destinations offering unique experiences could see increased interest from Indian travellers. He highlighted countries such as Finland, Iceland and Mexico as examples of places attracting attention beyond traditional tourism routes.

“Basically they don’t want to explore what everybody’s explored so far. So they want to try something niche,” Shukla explained.

These destinations appeal because they offer different experiences:

The growing interest in these markets demonstrates how Indian travellers are expanding their destination choices and seeking less conventional travel opportunities.

How Is MakeMyTrip Responding to the Changing Indian Traveller?

MakeMyTrip’s observations at ITB India highlight how travel companies are adapting to changing customer expectations. According to Shukla, the industry is witnessing a move towards more personalised and experience-focused travel planning.

The changing traveller profile requires travel companies to understand:

• destination preferences,
• longer holiday patterns,
• niche experiences,
• personalised itineraries.

As travellers become more confident and experienced, travel platforms need to provide more flexible options that match individual interests.

The shift towards complex itineraries also creates opportunities for destinations that previously attracted fewer Indian visitors.

How Was MakeMyTrip’s Experience at ITB India?

During the interview, Shukla highlighted the value of ITB India as a platform for meaningful business discussions and partnerships.

Although the event had only recently started, he described the response positively.

“The feedback, the crowd is absolutely brilliant,” Shukla said.

However, he explained that the biggest value came from meeting relevant business partners rather than simply attracting large numbers of attendees.

“Rather than more number of people, we are actually met more valuable partners who actually make a lot of difference to our business,” he explained.

According to Shukla, ITB India created opportunities for detailed conversations about business development and future collaborations.

Why Is Quality Networking Becoming More Important at Travel Events?

Shukla’s comments highlight a wider industry shift where travel events are focusing more on meaningful connections rather than attendance numbers alone.

“It’s a very right platform to have meaningful discussions and detailed discussions about the business side,” he said.

The value of targeted networking includes:

Travel companies increasingly prefer platforms where they can connect directly with suitable partners and decision-makers.

This approach helps exhibitors and attendees achieve more valuable outcomes from industry events.

What Does MakeMyTrip’s ITB India Experience Mean for Future Travel Growth?

Shukla expressed interest in continuing participation at ITB India.

“We will like to come here again,” he said.

He also hoped that the following days of the event would continue delivering positive results.

“I hope that today and tomorrow are equally good as it was yesterday,” Shukla added.

His comments show the importance of travel trade events in understanding market changes and building industry relationships.

For MakeMyTrip, ITB India provided an opportunity to observe evolving traveller preferences and connect with global travel partners.

How Is Indian Tourism Moving From Traditional Holidays to Personalised Experiences?

The biggest message from Shukla’s interview is that Indian travel is moving from traditional tourism towards experience-led journeys.

“Absolutely. So it is more of experience rather than tourism,” he said.

Modern Indian travellers are increasingly searching for:

• unique destinations,
• longer holidays,
• cultural discovery,
• adventure,
• personalised travel plans.

This transformation creates opportunities for destinations that can offer authentic and memorable experiences.

The future of Indian outbound travel is expected to be shaped by travellers seeking deeper connections rather than simply visiting famous landmarks.

Conclusion

MakeMyTrip Reveals Indian Travellers Are Leaving Traditional Tourism Behind for Longer, Niche and Experience-Led Journeys as the Indian travel market enters a new phase of global exploration and personalised holiday planning. The reason behind this evolution is the growing demand for unique destinations, multi-location itineraries and experiences that go beyond traditional tourism. As highlighted by MakeMyTrip, Indian travellers are increasingly searching for destinations that offer something different, choosing longer stays and discovering lesser-explored locations. This shift towards Longer, Niche and Experience-Led Journeys is reshaping outbound tourism patterns and creating new opportunities for destinations worldwide. From Finland and Iceland to Mexico and other emerging markets, travellers are expanding their horizons and seeking deeper connections with places they visit. The future of Indian travel will increasingly depend on authentic experiences, flexible itineraries and destinations that can deliver memorable journeys.

Frequently Asked Questions

What travel trend is MakeMyTrip seeing among Indian travellers?

MakeMyTrip is seeing Indian travellers choose complex itineraries, longer stays and experience-focused journeys.

How long are Indian travellers staying internationally?

According to Amit Shukla, international stays are becoming close to 10 days at a stretch.

Which destinations are gaining attention from Indian travellers?

Shukla mentioned Finland, Iceland and Mexico as examples of destinations attracting interest due to unique experiences.

What was MakeMyTrip’s experience at ITB India?

Shukla said the event provided valuable partnerships and meaningful business discussions.

What is the biggest change in Indian travel behaviour?

Indian travellers are moving from traditional tourism towards personalised, niche and experience-led journeys.