77% of Indians are confident to travel this summer: Skyscanner
Skyscanner Report
According to the Skyscanner data, the most popular destinations for summer 2026 include Bangkok, Denpasar, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City, Colombo, Seoul, and Kathmandu; Notably, 58% of travellers believe July offers cheaper flights compared to August.
Skyscanner recently released its Smarter Summer travel 2026 report, which reflects that despite a backdrop of uncertainty, summer travel is still on for many, with 77% of Indians confident about travelling in the next 3 months. Nearly 9 in 10 Indians are planning or have already booked their Summer 2026 holiday. With only about 38% yet to book their summer holidays, but are actively looking, showing sustained desire for travel despite ongoing uncertainty.
However, planning is becoming increasingly complex. This evolving approach is being shaped by a few key considerations including Airfare trends, with nearly half of travellers (48%) factoring in fluctuating flight prices; Overall trip value, as 45% weigh total travel costs more carefully; Travel advisories, influencing decisions for 34% of travellers; and Operational disruptions, such as airport closures, are impacting 32% of plans.
According to the Skyscanner data, the most popular destinations for summer 2026 include Bangkok, Thailand; Denpasar, Indonesia; Singapore; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Tokyo, Japan; Phuket, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Seoul, South Korea; and Kathmandu, Nepal.
There are early signs of more informed planning, with 58% believing July offers cheaper flights compared to August, highlighting a growing awareness of when to travel for better value.
Based on data from July–August 2025 on Skyscanner platform, the top cheapest destinations for summer 2026 are Kozhikode (India), Diu (India), Puducherry (India), George Town (Malaysia), Jammu (India), Shillong (India), Krabi (Thailand), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and Victoria (Seychelles).
Neel Ghose, Travel and Destinations Expert, Skyscanner India, said, “We’re also seeing a clear shift in mindset from ‘where everyone is going’ to ‘where else can I go’. This growing openness to alternative and lesser-known destinations signals a more confident and value-aware traveller, one who is more open to switching plans if it improves the overall experience. With these pressures shaping decisions, travellers are looking for smarter ways to unlock value without compromising on the trip. Tools like Skyscanner’s ‘Whole Month’ search are helping travellers make smarter decisions by making it easier to compare options, track fares, and identify better-value travel windows.”
As travel intent remains strong, planning is becoming more dynamic. Rather than cancelling trips, travellers are increasingly adapting, switching destinations, adjusting timing, or rethinking how to get the most out of their travel budgets.
This shift is already visible in destination choices and travel pattern including 81% are open to lesser-known destinations; 60% are actively seeking quieter, less crowded places; and 9 in 10 say it is important that their holiday spend benefits local communities and small businesses.
According to the report, Zostel is already seeing this shift in action. Aviral Gupta, CEO of Zostel and Zo World, said, “Offbeat destinations across our network grew 88% year-on-year, and a significant 60% of those guests were first-time travellers, many of them from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Smaller-town India is no longer just a backdrop for travel stories; it’s where the story begins. Partnering with Skyscanner on this report only reinforces what we see on the ground every day. The Indian traveller is smarter, bolder, and more curious than ever.”
Flexibility is also reshaping how plans are executed. Although 58% of travellers have fixed travel dates due to work or school commitments, 30% are choosing to switch destinations rather than cancel trips, showing how adaptability is becoming central to travel planning.
According to the report, on average, Indians spend over 15 hours coordinating a group trip, with nearly half saying it is more stressful than major life events such as moving house or planning a wedding. The biggest challenge often lies in aligning preferences, budgets and schedules, making group travel one of the most time-consuming parts of the journey. As a result, travellers are increasingly looking for ways to simplify decision-making and reduce friction when planning together.
Skyscanner is also set to launch a campaign on its Instagram handle in collaboration with musician and artist Mayur Jumani on May 1, 2026. The campaign aims to complement the insights from the Smarter Summer Report.
