Tour operators and travel agents are at the forefront of India’s outbound boom, propelling the country’s rise as a top source market for international destinations. This explosive growth has transformed the India outbound story into a thrilling saga of opportunity and innovation. As the world rolls out the red carpet for Indian travellers across every segment, agents are the driving force—navigating trends, overcoming challenges, and crafting strategies to shape the future of this rapidly changing market. TTJ seeks to uncover the insights and strategies shaping this remarkable trajectory.
According to Future Market Insights, India’s outbound tourism market is predicted to reach USD 18,817.72 million in 2024, with an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4 per cent projected between 2024 and 2034. By 2034, the market value is expected to soar to USD 55,388.41 million.
Travel agents are key facilitators in India’s outbound travel success story, serving as trusted advisors, planners, and executors for millions of Indian travellers exploring international destinations. Their expertise lies in understanding client preferences, budgets, and cultural nuances of Indian travellers, enabling them to craft the perfect experience for their clients, be it business or leisure. Their keen market understanding and expert knowledge make them the frontline drivers of India’s current outbound tourism boom.
Reimagining Outbound Travel
India’s outbound travel scenario is evolving rapidly, with emerging trends inspiring travellers to explore new forms of tourism. To stay ahead in the game, travel agents must quickly learn, adapt, and innovate to meet these shifting demands, ensuring they remain indispensable to their clients.
Anjali Gupta, Director, Y Not Travel, emphasises the importance of staying agile in the ever-evolving travel industry. In today’s rapidly changing travel landscape, having a finger on the pulse of what travellers want is essential. She shares her approach, “As guests increasingly seek immersive cultural, culinary, and adventure experiences, we adapt by enhancing our destination expertise, developing niche specialisations, and crafting curated itineraries.” To cater to the growing demand in the luxury and sustainable travel market, where exclusivity and eco-conscious options are key, Anjali focuses on building partnerships with sustainable luxury brands, curating eco-certified itineraries, and championing responsible tourism practices.
According to Prateek Wadhwa, Director, Dream Trip4U, 2025 will see travellers prioritising personalised, immersive, and meaningful experiences beyond traditional vacations. He says, “Guests want to connect deeply with local cultures, enjoy unique activities, and opt for sustainable travel choices. There is a noticeable rise in interest for wellness retreats, culinary-focused trips, and vacations that cater to the whole family.” To address these evolving needs, Prateek has a clear plan, “We are creating customised travel plans tailored to each traveller’s interests and goals while enhancing our digital tools to make trip planning interactive, fun, and engaging for our customers.”
Varun Godia, Manager, Product Development, Varun Worldwide Vacations, highlights a significant shift in travel trends; the fading concept of seasonality in travel products. He notes, “People are no longer limiting their trips to the ‘best’ time of year for a destination. Instead, they plan their travels based on their schedules while juggling jobs, family commitments, and financial considerations,” he explains.
Sharing examples, Varun elucidates, “Western Europe, once primarily associated with summer vacations and ski trips, is now drawing visitors year-round, with increasing interest in Christmas markets, New Year celebrations, and the vibrant spring season. Similarly, the Masai Mara, which traditionally saw peak tourism between June and October, is now experiencing steady visitor numbers even during its off-season.”
Dheeraj S Kandur, Partner, Flight Shop Holidays, shares his approach to capitalising on the growing demand for experiential travel, “We are building strong partnerships with local suppliers and hoteliers well in advance to secure the best offers. Additionally, we are collaborating closely with tourism boards to craft exclusive, tailored itineraries that resonate with the Indian diaspora.” Acknowledging the phenomenal influence of social media and technology, he adds, “We actively track trending experiences and incorporate them into our offerings, ensuring we meet the demand for experiential travel among our clients.”
Beyond The Touristy Trail
Assessing the increasing popularity of trending destinations, Prateek sees a noticeable curiosity among travellers for offbeat destinations. He says, “This is something we are excited to nurture. Destinations like Russia, Georgia, Almaty, Baku, and Fiji are becoming increasingly popular due to their unique cultural offerings, picturesque landscapes, and affordability.” Outlining his prime focus, he states, “We promote such places by crafting exclusive itineraries and highlighting their hidden charms through storytelling, social media campaigns, and testimonials. Collaborations with local partners and influencers further help us to provide authentic insights, ensuring these destinations appeal to Indian travellers looking for fresh experiences.”
At Y Not Travel, the demand for cultural tours to Japan and bucket-list trips to see the Northern Lights has surged exponentially. Anjali notes, “Our team stays ahead by continuously learning and adapting to trends.” In Japan, travellers are increasingly seeking unique and immersive experiences. “From gastronomy tours and chrysanthemum viewing to scenic train journeys and stays at Legoland or Disneyland, the demand for diverse experiences is growing. Our team even arranged a film shoot for a superstar against the stunning backdrop of autumn foliage, highlighting our expertise in curating highly personalised and extraordinary requests,” shares Anjali. Popular activities for Northern Lights trips include skiing, snowmobiling, and icebreaker tours. Anjali reminisces about an unforgettable moment when a Mumbai industrialist proposed under the shimmering auroras, celebrating the occasion with his 20-member family.
Travel today is shifting towards unique, unusual, and personalised experiences, moving away from the concept of mass tourism. Dheeraj points out, “Our team conducts extensive research on destinations we specialise in, such as Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and Iceland. We travel extensively to these regions, allowing us to build strong partnerships with local hoteliers, boutique stays, and providers of bespoke experiences to enable us to craft truly immersive experiences.”
Varun has noticed a growing trend among Indian travellers seeking destinations off the beaten path that are unique and filled with authentic local experiences. Varun and his team have adopted a more tailored approach to cater to these evolving preferences. Teams are being trained to understand client requirements better, be it accommodation, specific F&B needs, or any special kind of experience. He recounts a memorable example of a client who spent 21 days in Japan. “For this trip, we arranged some truly unique cultural and dining experiences, including a reservation at an exclusive eight-seater tempura restaurant that sells out in minutes,” Varun adds.
Ensuring Stress-Free Travel
Prateek defines travel as constantly changing and challenging, with complicated visas, last-minute policy updates, and connectivity issues. He points out, “To make things easier for our clients, we stay on top of all the latest rules and maintain good connections with airlines and embassies. We help with all the pre-travel details, and our support team is available 24/7 to handle sudden issues like flight changes to ensure smooth running of trips.” He shares a recent example, “Our HNI client faced a sudden visa policy change just days before her Europe trip; we stepped in immediately, sorted her paperwork, and ensured she could travel without any hassle.”
Travel is one of the few industries where every moment brings a new challenge, given each client’s unique preferences. Dheeraj explains, “We have developed tailored SOPs for every departure and category of travel to address challenges. We ensure thorough preparation by revising documentation multiple times, applying for visas well in advance, and advising clients to book refundable options wherever possible. Additionally, we provide a personal travel manager to ensure peace of mind before and during the trip.”
Anjali knows the value of time and encourages clients to apply for visas as soon as travel is planned—within 180 days for Schengen and 60 days for Japan, and always maintain a valid USA visa for seamless transit. She adds, “Our team provides end-to-end visa support, ensuring timely submission and accurate documentation. A dedicated WhatsApp group provides real-time support connecting the guests, suppliers, and our office for instant communication, quick issue resolution, and stress-free travel.”
As a policy, before the Varun Worldwide DMC sends out any quotes, they request the client to provide a list of valid visas they have. Varun explains, “We study the requirements of the destination they are going to and only plan if it is a hassle-free and smooth visa experience.” “A lot of tourism boards are trying to improve this process, such as France, Hungary, and Australia,” says Varun.
Charting The Course for 2025
Indian travellers today seek more than just vacations; they want unique, curated experiences that stand out, some that may even be new for the trip curators themselves! Dheeraj highlights this trend, “We are meeting the rising demand for luxury family getaways, off-the-beaten-path destinations, immersive tours, and other unique requests by offering tailor-made packages that seamlessly blend comfort with excitement. Flexibility is key, allowing us to customise every detail and handle last-minute plans for those spontaneous moments.”
In 2025, Flight Shop Holidays will focus on offering exclusive, deeply personalised experiences. “Our goal is to showcase places and experiences still off the radar for Indian travellers. We aim to promote new destinations and curate luxury honeymoons, active adventure groups, wildlife tours, and culinary journeys,” shares Dheeraj. To streamline the travel process, the company has partnered with tech platforms like DocsNow for hassle-free visa documentation uploads and Guesto, a mobile app providing live updates, local transport details, culinary recommendations, and shopping tips. He adds, “We are actively collaborating with hoteliers, experiential suppliers, and tourism boards worldwide, including regional boards, to ensure seamless transitions and deeper cultural understanding.”
Y Not Travel will focus more on trend-specific offerings like bleisure travel, combining business with leisure as remote work gains popularity. To meet this demand, it will offer tailored packages with extended stays and work-friendly accommodations. The growing demand for short-haul getaways to destinations like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe calls for a focus on quick visa solutions and weekend-friendly itineraries.
As experiential travel grows, Anjali believes guests will need guidance on local customs, “We provide destination-specific tips on greetings, tipping, and etiquette, like Japan’s quiet culture or Italy’s dining practices that help clients. In Norway, guests must be advised to handle their luggage due to the absence of bellboys or discouraged from eating, drinking, and talking loudly on Japanese trains.”
According to Varun, the truth is that the ‘Travel Agent’ is no longer always the most experienced person in the itinerary-building process. Sharing his strategy, Varun advises, “Clients have exposure to social media, and word of mouth of unique travel experiences travels very fast. Hence, we have to stay humble, educate ourselves, and sometimes even learn from the clients. Keep an open mind, course correct where required, and train teams to be flexible.”
The coming decade will be pivotal in shaping India’s influence on the global economy, with its outbound tourism market set to play a defining role. Travel agents at the core of this transformation—the unsung architects of global journeys—innovating, adapting, and leading the charge as they turn India’s outbound aspirations into a powerful reality.
