Tier two and three cities account for 63 per cent of India’s outbound travellers, TravClan Index 2025 shows

Non-metro India Drives Outbound Travel Growth

TravClan released the India Outbound Travel Index 2025, analysing outbound travel patterns based on booking data from its travel agent network. The report studied around 2,47,000 international passengers, covering a booking value of more than ₹500 crore across over 170 destinations.

The Index shows that non-metro cities account for 63 per cent of India’s outbound travellers. The findings indicate a shift in outbound demand towards emerging cities alongside metro markets.

Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kochi, Amritsar and Pune are among the fastest-growing outbound markets. TravClan linked this to rising incomes, expanding passport access and improved regional air connectivity.

Commenting on the findings, Arun Bagaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, TravClan, said, “The centre of gravity for India's outbound travel has shifted. Travel Businesses cannot build strategies just around Delhi and Mumbai anymore as we see consistent growth from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, driven by travellers who are digitally confident and decisive. Airlines, destinations, and travel brands need to embrace the next phase of outbound growth that will be built around these emerging markets.”

Destination choices are also changing. Travellers are selecting markets with strong air access and competitive pricing. Vietnam recorded the highest growth in market share, alongside increases in hotel bookings in Egypt, Japan, the Philippines, and Georgia.

Booking timelines are shortening. Over 42 per cent of outbound trips were booked within seven days of departure, while 21.9 per cent were booked more than a month in advance.

Low-cost carriers accounted for nearly 70 per cent of bookings on leisure routes such as the Maldives and Thailand. Travellers are also extending average stays in several destinations.

The report states that outbound travel growth will be influenced by localised source markets, shorter booking cycles and changing travel preferences.