Skyscanner, a global travel app, has launched its Travel Trends 2027 report, highlighting the destinations gaining popularity among Indian travellers, the best-value destinations and seven trends expected to influence travel behaviour and the industry in the coming year.
According to the report, Indian travellers are increasingly seeking value not only in their spending but also in the experiences they gain from a trip. Whether disconnecting from digital devices, travelling to purchase exclusive products, maintaining wellness routines, celebrating together, following music and culture, or exploring history and mythology, holiday choices are increasingly reflecting individual lifestyles and priorities.
Despite a broader slowdown in consumer spending and shifting global economic conditions, interest in travel remains strong. The report found that 58% of Indians plan to travel abroad more in 2027, while 56% intend to spend more on flights and 44% on accommodation. However, value continues to influence decisions, with 67% having changed or considered changing a holiday destination because an alternative offered better value.
Neel Ghose, Travel Trends and Destinations Expert at Skyscanner India, said, “Indian travellers are entering 2027 with a stronger appetite to explore, but they are also becoming more considered about how they spend their time and money. We’re seeing a shift from simply choosing where to go towards thinking more carefully about the experience they want from a trip, whether that is switching off, discovering something new, staying active or getting better value.
“With 87% of Indians now confident using AI to plan and book travel, technology is also becoming an important part of this decision-making journey. Tools such as Skyscanner’s Explore with AI can help travellers turn an idea into a trip, while features like Price Alerts and Drops can help them stay on top of fares and spot opportunities to travel for less. The opportunity for travellers in 2027 is to use these tools to be more flexible and intentional, without compromising on the experiences that matter most.”
Combining its proprietary data with research involving 2,000 Indian travellers and supporting data from trusted partners, Skyscanner identified seven trends shaping travel in 2027.
Sound Bound: Music-inspired travel is taking Indian holidaymakers beyond traditional concert halls. The report found that 43% choose carnival experiences, while 38% prefer music events at unusual venues such as volcanoes, pyramids and caves. Although music genre remains the leading consideration for 27% of respondents, cultural immersion influences 20%, while 19% are motivated by the opportunity to experience a new venue.
Signal Severance: Disconnecting from digital devices is not always immediate for Indian travellers. While 23% said they switch off as soon as their journey begins, 43% need some time to clear their minds and stop checking their phones. However, 75% said they would feel more connected to nature and 73% more connected to themselves without their phones. Destinations offering opportunities to slow down and disconnect are gaining attention, with flight searches for Pokhara rising 166% year on year, Agatti increasing 157% and Phu Quoc climbing 133%.
Gymcation: Health and fitness are increasingly influencing travel choices, with Indian travellers seeking destinations where exercise and nutritious food can be incorporated into their holidays. The report found that 91% are likely to book a hotel offering breakfast options designed around nutritional performance. Meanwhile, 53% actively look for fitness facilities and are willing to choose one hotel over another if its fitness offering is better.
Deepak Raj, Country Head of HYROX India, said, “Our registration data shows that fitness is no longer something Indians pause when they travel – it's becoming a reason to travel. Nearly half the athletes at our Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru events this year travelled from another city, sometimes another state, just to compete. That tells us the 'gym-cation' isn't a niche behaviour anymore; for a growing number of Indian travellers, a workout event is now as legitimate a reason to book a trip as a concert or a marathon.”
Pilgra-merch: Destination-exclusive shopping is emerging as another travel motivator. According to the report, 80% of Indians have visited a specific destination or store to purchase an item available only at that location. The trend is particularly pronounced among Gen Z, at 84%, and Millennials, at 82%. Nearly half of respondents, or 49%, would even take a flight lasting three to six hours to buy something unavailable elsewhere.
Sten Do Surge: Traditional stag and hen celebrations are increasingly giving way to joint trips as couples marry later in life and move away from traditionally gendered celebrations. The report found that 73% of Indian travellers prefer either a shared celebration or a combination of shared and separate celebrations. Fun is a motivating factor for 64%, followed by spending more time together before the wedding at 53%, convenience at 49% and cost savings at 48%.
Grand Odysseys: History and mythology are inspiring modern travel choices, offering Indian travellers opportunities to explore stories and events from the past. The report found that 89% had been inspired to plan a trip by a historical event, a classical story or myth, or both. Historical figures influenced 61% of respondents, architectural wonders inspired 57%, and mythological legends influenced 52%.
Currency Chasers: Exchange rates and destination costs are playing a growing role in holiday planning. The report found that 69% of Indian travellers always or often consider a destination's currency strength when booking holidays. Meanwhile, 67% have changed a holiday destination because another offered better value. Among Gen Z, the proportion rises to 77% when those who have changed or considered changing their destination are included.
Trending and Best-Value Destinations for 2027
Skyscanner's experts have also identified destinations attracting growing interest among Indian travellers and locations offering lower flight prices. The findings point to continued demand for international travel alongside greater attention to value, wellness, culture and discovery.
The top 10 trending destinations, based on increases in flight searches, are Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with a 748% increase; Rupsi, India, at 502%; Okinawa, Japan, at 279%; Malvan, India, at 258%; Tirana, Albania, at 237%; Podgorica, Montenegro, at 236%; Sandakan, Malaysia, at 189%; Pokhara, Nepal, at 166%; Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, at 139%; and Phu Quoc, Vietnam, at 133%.
The top 10 best-value destinations, ranked by reductions in economy-class return flight prices, are Jaisalmer, India, with a 43% price drop; Tashkent, Uzbekistan, at 30%; Kozhikode, India, at 29%; Jodhpur, India, at 25%; Baku, Azerbaijan, at 17%; Cebu, Philippines, at 17%; Krabi, Thailand, at 17%; Gaya, India, at 15%; Phuket, Thailand, at 11%; and Christchurch, New Zealand, at 8%.
The research indicates that rising costs are not stopping Indians from travelling but are encouraging more deliberate spending. While 58% plan to travel abroad more in 2027, 56% expect to spend more on flights and 44% on accommodation. At the same time, 67% have changed a destination because another option offered better value.
Artificial intelligence is also becoming a travel-planning companion. More than half of respondents plan to use AI for destination research, one in two use it to compare flights, accommodation and prices, and almost two in five use it to book flights. However, accuracy remains an important consideration for more than half of travellers.
Digital platforms are also shaping travel inspiration. YouTube leads at 78%, followed by Instagram at 69%, while 30% of Indian travellers already turn to AI chatbots and tools for ideas and inspiration.
The survey was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Skyscanner in July 2026 and involved 2,000 respondents from India.
The trending-destination rankings are based on increases in flight searches recorded between January 1 and June 17, 2026, for travel throughout 2026, compared with the same period in 2025. The destinations were subsequently curated using additional factors, including their suitability for leisure travel, to ensure the results were data-driven and relevant to holidaymakers.
The best-value rankings are based on percentage price reductions for economy-class return flights booked between January 1 and June 17, 2026, for travel throughout 2026, compared with the same period in 2025. These destinations were also curated using additional factors, including suitability for leisure travel.
The report draws on Skyscanner's proprietary data and research into Indian traveller behaviour to identify the trends shaping travel in 2027. Indian destination-trend and best-value destination data are to be added, subject to availability.
About Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a global travel platform that helps travellers plan and book trips. Every month, it connects millions of travellers across 52 countries and 37 languages with more than 1,400 trusted travel partners, enabling them to compare flight, hotel and car-hire options.
Founded in 2003, Skyscanner has offices across Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America, where traveller-focused innovations are developed using data and insights. The company uses technology to simplify travel planning and provide transparent solutions, searching billions of prices every day so travellers can compare available options in one place.
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