The year gone by had a few interesting trends that were witnessed during the year-end travel in 2025. In a recent report by booking platform Pickyourtrail, it was revealed that nearly half of the international trips for the year-end travel booked by Indians were booked just 15 days in advance. Bengaluru contributed to around 26 per cent of the year-end international travel.
Indian travellers during the year-end preferred the Maldives and Dubai for their year-end travel and may look towards China in the year 2026.
The report observes that the era of the year-long travel countdown is over, and today’s Indian traveller prefers the adrenaline of the eleventh-hour click.
The report says that there has been a seismic shift in the national psyche, a transition from "maybe next year" to "leaving tonight." What was once considered chaotic planning has evolved into a sophisticated new rhythm of travel, where confidence has replaced hesitation, and spontaneity has become the ultimate luxury for Indian travellers.
It was observed that nearly 50 per cent of international year-end trips were booked within 15 days of departure, up from just 18 per cent last year. This has been facilitated by easier visas, more flights, etc. The report says that international travel, once treated like a big annual milestone, is now behaving more like a lifestyle add-on: swipe, book, go.
Another interesting year-end travel trend that has been observed is that couples accounted for 64 per cent of all year-end bookings, and four out of ten trips were booked purely for leisure, no sightseeing marathons, no rushing between landmarks. During the year-end, Indians preferred slow mornings, private villas, spa slots, etc. During the year-end 2025, the Indian travellers preferred silence, sunsets, and a soft reset before January.
In India, Bengaluru alone contributed 26 per cent of all year-end international departures, cementing its status as India’s unofficial exit gate. The report points out that the city’s travellers proved ruthlessly efficient at switching off. The data suggests that in Bengaluru, the workforce is globally aware, time-starved, and perfectly comfortable booking a holiday the same way they book a cab when the window opens.
As far as the year-end destination choices are concerned, the year-end choices for 2025 were the same as the previous years, such as the Maldives, Dubai, and Thailand. The report says that when year-end travel bookings were done, these destinations were preferred because Indians got smooth entry, predictable luxury, and zero friction at these places. “These destinations have become the 'default setting' for last-minute indulgence, reliable, indulgent, and drama-free,” the report stated.
As per the Pickyourtrail report, travel behaviour is expected to change in 2026 as Indian travellers will no longer accept fixed itineraries and will seek holidays that reflect their identity, pace, and intent by default. Luxury in 2026 will be defined by how intentionally money is spent, not how much. Indian travellers will continue to optimise flights and dates to unlock premium moments, making smart value a status marker rather than a compromise. In 2026, with travel corridors reopening, China is set to emerge as a major draw for Indian travellers seeking culturally immersive experiences that feel unfamiliar yet deeply engaging. Going ahead in 2026, more Indians will choose holidays designed around rest rather than rush. Fewer cities, longer stays, and unhurried itineraries focused on downtime will define the next phase of travel.
