Indian Travellers Drive the Next Wave of Smart, Tech-Powered Journeys

New global research from Amadeus reveals how travellers are increasingly turning to technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their journeys and eliminate common pain points. And leading the charge are Indian travellers, who are adopting AI, biometrics, and loyalty tech faster than most.

The study, titled Connected Journeys: How Technology Will Transform Travel in the Next Decade, surveyed 9,500 travellers across seven countries, including India. It found that one in three Indian travellers has already used generative AI to plan a leisure trip abroad, up sharply from 17 per cent last year to 26 per cent this year. Among these users, 97 per cent said it improved their experience: 49 per cent said it saved time, 45 per cent discovered new destinations, and 44 per cent enjoyed more creative travel ideas.

Biometric technology is also gaining trust. About 74 per cent of Indian travellers said they’re comfortable using facial recognition or fingerprint gateways at airports, compared with a global average of 69 per cent. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of global travellers said they would pay for AI-powered travel assistance, and 17 per cent would spend up to five per cent of their trip cost for smarter, more personalised support.

Loyalty programmes remain strong in India: 92 per cent of travellers are subscribed to at least one, with 49 per cent booking add-on activities, 47 per cent travelling more often for leisure, and 46 per cent opting for premium experiences.

Still, about 25 per cent of global travellers found AI tools inaccurate or not aligned with their preferences, showing that human support remains essential.

For Indian travellers, though, the future is clear, travel is becoming faster, easier, and more personal than ever.