Booking.com: Indian parents prioritise meaningful, culturally rich, tech-enabled family travel with increased budgets in 2025

A new report by Booking.com highlights how Indian parents are reimagining family travel in 2025, placing increased importance on meaningful, shared experiences that blend cultural discovery, personal growth, and family bonding. According to the findings, 75% of Indian parents consider travel a top priority this year, well above the Asia-Pacific average of 58% and the global average of 53%.

The study reveals a strong shift towards purpose-led familytravel, with social occasions remaining a key driver. Nearly three-quarters of Indian parents plan to travel for weddings, while 63% cite reunions with loved ones as a travel motivator. Domestic travel remains strong, with 98% intending to take at least one trip within India, while 90% also plan to travel internationally.

Indian parents are also increasingly prioritising cultural exposure, with 92% valuing experiences that introduce their children to diverse cultures and 90% emphasising the importance of connecting with their own cultural roots.

Destinations within Asia are preferred by 62% of Indian parents, followed by Europe (55%) and North America (26%). Travel motivations include family time (72%), improved mood (71%), relaxation (68%), and mental wellbeing (63%).

Budget planning also reflects evolving priorities. 84% of Indian parents plan to increase their overall travel budgets, with spending focused not only on essentials like accommodation, dining, and shopping, but also on shared experiences. Preferences are split between longer annual holidays (78%) and multiple short trips (76%). Many are open to cost-saving strategies, such as off-season travel (70%), longer transport routes, and last-minute bookings (63%) for better deals. At the same time, 58% are willing to spend more for memorable travel experiences.

Technology is playing an increasingly central role in shaping travel decisions. 88% of Indian parents use digital tools to find deals and manage costs, while 91% rely on technology to discover more authentic, meaningful experiences. The study also notes growing confidence in using AI for planning, with 88% saying it improves efficiency, and over half using it for safety information, dining tips, activities, and accommodation choices.

As Indian parents seek to balance family togetherness with personal enrichment, 2025 marks a shift towards more intentional, value-driven travel across age groups and destination types.

The insights are based on Booking.com’s Travel Trends 2025 research, conducted in January 2025 among over 32,000 respondents across 32 global markets, including 1,800 participants from India. The study was conducted with people who had taken at least one leisure trip with an overnight stay in the past year and were involved in planning travel for 2025.

Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com said, “Indian parents are embracing travel in 2025 with a deeper sense of purpose—blending cultural connection, family bonding and personal growth. With 75% making travel a top priority, they’re planning journeys that are more intentional and value-driven. From investing in shared experiences to balancing luxury with smart budgeting and embracing technology, they are redefining what meaningful travel looks like. At Booking.com, we are committed to supporting these evolving priorities by offering the flexibility, choice and convenience families need to plan unforgettable trips—by providing unique places to stay, great things to do and a wide range of transport options, from flights to rental cars.”

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