Women Now Plan Nearly Three-Quarters of India’s Leisure Trips, Finds Thrillophilia Report

Women Lead India’s Travel Planning Trends

Thrillophilia has released its Women & Travel Decisions 2025 report, analysing 212,000 itineraries and 8.9 million planning signals. The findings show that women now influence or design seventy-two per cent of India’s leisure trips, taking responsibility for budgeting, safety considerations, and itinerary curation.

The report notes that women tend to book earlier, compare options more thoroughly, and assess choices more carefully before confirming a trip. On average, they book nine days in advance, helping avoid price increases, keeping itineraries stable, and reducing cancellations by eighteen per cent. Women also read more reviews, open more photos, and circulate itineraries within family or friends’ groups for cross-checking before final approval. Although women drive key decisions such as destination, accommodation, and experiences, sixty-two per cent of payments on women-planned couple trips are still made by men.

Data from Thrillophilia also shows that women opt for what the platform terms a “smart luxury” approach, preferring boutique stays, spa time, wellness walks, and relaxed schedules. Women account for 28 per cent more of these premium upgrades, yet overall spending remains within 6 per cent of men’s expenditure, indicating a more value-focused decision-making pattern.

Women also apply more than three times as many safety filters. As a result, the platform has recorded fewer trip-related emergencies and a twenty-three per cent reduction in SOS calls.

Chitra Gurnani Daga, Co-founder, Thrillophilia, said, “Indian leisure is increasingly a She-Planner economy. Women are curating smarter itineraries, earlier bookings, safety-first choices, and meaningful upgrades without blowing the budget. As women continue to lead India’s travel decisions, the industry is shifting toward more thoughtful planning, better value choices, and deeply curated experiences.”

For domestic holidays, women prefer value-led destinations such as Rajasthan and Kerala, followed by Goa. International choices include Bali, Dubai–Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, which offer both value and luxury.

When travelling with children and family, the data shows that women typically plan slow mornings, one marquee activity, and early dinners. This leads to seven per cent fewer reschedules, contributing to smoother itineraries.

A notable trend is the rise in women-led planning from Tier-Two cities. Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Jaipur are among the fastest-growing markets, with Indore showing thirty-one per cent year-on-year growth. Thrillophilia observes that the growing She-Planner Economy is shaping not only destinations and itineraries but the broader ecosystem around women-led travel choices.