The festive season has experienced a surge in travel demand up to 18% year-on-year in 2025, with outbound bookings rising to 24%, as per Thrillophilia’s Festive Travel Pulse 2025. But the real story lies in how Indians are travelling, opting for compact, high-value “smart luxury” escapes over long intercontinental holidays.

International demand

More than 70% of international demand is now flowing to short-haul Asia-Pacific hubs. The UAE continues to dominate, with Dubai alone accounting for 16% of outbound bookings and Abu Dhabi another 6–7%. Thailand is at 15%, Singapore at 14%, Vietnam at 10%, Bali at 8%, and a resurgent Hong Kong at +25% YoY, to round out the top picks.

“This festive season, Indian travellers are redefining holidays as curated, meaningful escapes. Short-haul hub

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