Global Travel Trends: Insights from the 25th Holiday Barometer
Discover what's influencing Indian holidaymakers in
2026 with Redion's latest Holiday Barometer. In
February, we asked 26,000 respondents across 26
countries what travel means to them: from growing
safety concerns impacting destination choices to the
rise of AI in trip planning and booking. Read the full
report to understand the insights shaping the Indian
tourism landscape.
Key Insights Discovered
Indian travel intentions are among the highest in the world
87% of Indians plan to travel this year, one of the
highest travel intentions recorded globally, marking a
significant increase from last year.
Key Insights Discovered
India remains the destination of choice, but the world is calling too
Over half of Indian travellers are planning domestic
holidays, drawn by the country’s own diversity of
mountains, beaches, deserts, wildlife, heritage cities
and spiritual destinations. At the same time, 37%
dream of travelling abroad, international trips are
becoming an additional aspiration rather than a
replacement for domestic travel.
Key Insights Discovered
Travel is becoming a lifestyle, not an occasional activity
1 in 4 Indians are now frequent travellers, and 91% say
they feel excited about travelling, nearly half
describing themselves as really excited, reflecting
exceptionally strong travel enthusiasm.
Key Insights Discovered
Safety is becoming part of the journey
Global political developments, regional conflicts,
weather disruptions and changing visa environments
are shaping how Indians plan their trips. Rather than
discouraging travel, this is pushing travellers to:
- Purchase comprehensive travel insurance
Stay informed about destination advisories
Plan with greater flexibility
Choose trusted travel partners
So, what happens now?
The Indian traveller of 2026 is travelling more frequently, balancing domestic and international experiences, and seeking meaningful experiences over checklist tourism. Weekend escapes, long weekends and seasonal breaks are gradually replacing the idea of one “big vacation”, travel is becoming part of everyday life rather than a once-ayear event. As destinations evolve and global conditions shift, Indian travellers are placing greater importance on safety and preparedness, and making more informed travel decisions than ever before. For travel businesses, this presents an opportunity to move beyond selling trips and become trusted travel partners who help customers travel with confidence. Prepared travellers are becoming confident travellers — and as global travel corridors continue to evolve, we expect Indian traveller sentiment to keep strengthening, with “can I travel?” increasingly giving way to “how do I travel smartly?” In periods of uncertainty, the role of trust becomes even more critical, with customers leaning on expert advice, itinerary flexibility, and real-time support.
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Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees.
Survey methodology
Redion, formerly Europ Assistance, has been conducting annual Holiday Barometers every year since 2001. The survey, conducted by Ipsos, gathered insights from 26,000 respondents across 26 countries (Asia, Australia, Europe, North America), offering a global snapshot of evolving travel behaviours—highlighting what’s changing, what’s trending, and what it means for Indian travellers.
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