99% of Indian travellers associate travel with positive emotions: Booking.com Index

According to the index 78% prioritise meaningful local experiences, while 70% feel more confident about affording travel than before. 82% of Indian travellers view travel as essential to their overall happiness and personal wellbeing, with the emotional return on investment beginning long before departure.

Booking.com has unveiled the Travel Happiness Index, a new research report exploring the emotional, financial and social drivers of travel among travellers amid rising global uncertainty. Drawing on insights from 10,000 travellers across 10 APAC markets, including India, the inaugural index identifies what makes trips truly memorable, stress-free and worthwhile for the travellers.

For many Indian travellers, travel not only remains a priority but the joy of it begins long before departure. 99% associate travel with positive emotions and for many, it also plays an important role in their mental and emotional wellbeing. In addition to travel helping them recharge, 9 in 10 (90%) say having a trip to look forward to, lifts their mood, while 77% say this anticipation helps them cope with daily demands.

However, travel is not without its pressures: some Indian travellers say trips can leave them feeling tired or drained (29%), pressured to make the most of their time away (24%), or uncertain (22%) and anxious (20%). Today’s travellers are constantly balancing their desire for meaningful experiences, expectations, logistical considerations and the realities of modern travel, making smooth, stress-free journeys just as essential as the trip itself.

Driven by this need for ease, Indian travellers are taking control of their journeys through intentional planning 82% of Indian travellers view travel as essential to their overall happiness and personal wellbeing, with the emotional return on investment beginning long before departure. Trips primarily evoke positive feelings of happiness (55%), relaxation (46%) and excitement (43%). The planning stage plays a vital role in establishing a positive mindset, with 82% stating planning makes them feel more in control of their journey and 80% preferring to organise itineraries in advance. Primary motivations for taking a trip include spending quality time with family and loved ones (41%), escaping daily routines to reset (37%) and seeking out food and dining experiences (32%).

Indian travellers are increasingly finding fulfillment not in packed itineraries or bucket-list pursuits, but in the simple, meaningful moments on a trip. Appreciating natural scenery (26%), spending quality time with travel companions (28%) and enjoying good food or drinks (16%) contribute to trip satisfaction.

At the heart of many happy trips is connection, whether with travel companions, family or the people and places encountered along the way. Family, in particular, stands out, with 68% Indian travellers saying family trips are the most enjoyable.

These evolving definitions of what makes a trip worthwhile are shaping how Indian travellers plan their journeys, with more intention and value in mind, 78% prioritise trying local food and incorporating meaningful experiences. 69% choose dates or destinations based on travel deals. 71% extend their trips to create more time to rest, recharge, and fully enjoy their destination. 41% choose vacation homes, apartments, and unique stays for better value for money, while 34% say such stays help them experience destinations in a more authentic, local way.

Despite ongoing concerns around extreme weather (33%), health and hygiene risks (33%), crime levels (29%), inflation (28%), and political instability (24%), these factors are rarely dealbreakers, with Indian travellers’ remaining resilient and committed to travel. While affordability remains an important consideration, careful planning and intentional choices are helping travellers make trips feel worthwhile, with 70% stating they feel more confident in their ability to afford travel than before.

Even when faced with disruption, 96% of Indian travellers are willing to adapt rather than abandon their plans 28% opt for alternative destinations that offer a similar vibe. 19% choose to postpone their trip. 19% adjust the timing or duration of their travel.

Digital tools have become an integral part of the modern travel journey, with 84% of Indian travellers stating they make planning and booking easier. 77% say digital tools like search engines, booking platforms, and AI-powered tools make it easier to find and compare options. 75% say these tools inspire them to discover new destinations and experiences. 87% feel more at ease when booking through a trusted platform 

Santosh Kumar, Regional Head,  South Asia at Booking.com said, “Travel is increasingly becoming more than just a break from routine, it is an investment in wellbeing, relationships and personal enrichment. Our inaugural Travel Happiness Index shows that Indian travellers are planning their trips more thoughtfully, seeking authentic local experiences and finding ways to make their trip feel more worthwhile. What's particularly encouraging is their resilience, rather than putting their plans on hold during uncertainty, most are choosing to adapt and make the most of their trips. As part of our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, we’re focused on helping travellers book and plan with confidence, so they can focus less on friction and more on the experiences that make travel truly worthwhile.”

The Travel Happiness Index combines two dimensions of traveller behaviour: the factors people say are important to a good trip and the factors they prioritise most strongly when making trade-offs. By analysing both, it reveals that travel happiness is shaped not only by the experiences travellers seek, but also by the confidence, ease and reassurance that help make those experiences possible.