Personal wellness, and luxury experiences are high on the travel agenda for Indians in 2023
77% Indians plan on taking at least three vacations or leisure trips
90% millennials plan on investing more money in luxury travel experiences
61% GenZers are planning to detox from social media during their trips
New Delhi | As per the American Express Travel® 2023
Global
Travel Trends Report* based on survey data from travelers across the United States, Australia,
Canada,
Mexico, Japan, India, and the United Kingdom, 90% surveyed Indians are prioritizing travel plans focusing on
personal wellness with 87% planning on spending more money on luxury experiences than conventional luxury
goods
this
year.
"Indians are planning to travel for gaining new experiences, learning about a city and its culture,
breaking
away
from monotony and trying new food or cuisine. New trends like solo and bleisure travel are also picking
up
amongst Indian travellers,” says Sanjay Khanna, CEO, American Express Banking Corp.,
India.
“With the ongoing demand for travelling, we are backing our Card members with compelling offers and
benefits, helping them get better value for their trips and creating joyful memories.”
Trends Inspiring Travel Decisions of Indians
- The Rise of “Set-Jetting”: Popular movies, TV shows and social media are inspiring people to
travel to places they see onscreen.
- Delicious Destinations: From top restaurants to local favorites to cooking classes, people are choosing
their next destination based on what they’ll eat.
- A Wellness Wave: Restorative vacations are on the rise as travelers prioritize self-care and mental and
physical health.
- Traveling Off the Beaten Path: Travelers want to discover hidden gems and support the local community
when they visit.
Pop-culture and social media are influencing the rise of “set-jetting”.
- The top sources of travel inspiration for surveyed Indians include Instagram (63%), Facebook (63%), online blogs
(49%) and TV shows (49%).
- 48% Indian respondents agree that they have been inspired to travel this year by a recent TV show/movie, with
Game of Thrones and Emily in Paris topping the list.
- 95% surveyed Indian GenZers agree that they are inspired to visit specific travel destinations after seeing them
featured on TV shows, news sources or movies.
Culinary delights driving the travel preferences of Indians.
- Highest amongst all the surveyed countries, 86% Indian respondents shared that they typically book travel
destinations based on popular restaurants located there. Participating in the local restaurant scene and food
festivals are top experiences they are looking forward to during their upcoming travels.
- When it comes to food inspiration, more than 98% surveyed Indians agree that they are open to venturing out of
their comfort zone and trying new foods while traveling.
Supporting local communities and the environment is on the minds of Indians while traveling.
- 97% are interested in going on a vacation that supports local communities in 2023.
- 94% of surveyed Indians say that they are more mindful of the environmental impact of their travel decisions
compared to a year ago.
Exploring lesser-known destinations and traveling on off –the-beaten path.
- 98% surveyed Indians want to travel to a place they have never been before.
- Indian respondents are seeking hidden gems as 94% agree that they want to explore lesser-known destinations and
95% agree that they want to travel to a destination that is off –the-beaten path.
*Methodology:
The American Express 2023 Global Travel Trends Report is based on data obtained through an online poll conducted by
Morning Consult between February 3rd – 11th, 2023 among a sample of 1,000 travelers from Australia, Canada,
India, Japan, Mexico, UK and 2,000 travelers in the US who have a household income of at least a $70k equivalent,
and who typically travel by air at least once a year. Results from each market’s survey have a margin of error
of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Gen Z and Millennials are defined as respondents as being born between 1981 - 2012.
CONTACTS:
AMERICAN EXPRESS
Vibha Bajaj
vibha.b.bajaj@aexp.com
Pallavi Bahuguna
pallavi.bahuguna@aexp.com