India’s Outbound Travel Is Exploding Thanks To Gen Z—Here’s Where They’re Headed First

If the last decade belonged to Millennials discovering the world, 2025 clearly belongs to Gen Z, India’s boldest, most global and most experience-hungry travellers yet. According to a report, conducted with Hansa Research, this generation has become a major force behind India’s outbound travel surge. With India recording 3.08 crore outbound trips in 2024, young Indians are stepping out more than ever, and their compass is pointed unmistakably towards Asia. From Thailand and Japan to Singapore and South Korea, Gen Z is shaping a new kind of Indian travel story, one built on aspiration, aesthetics and cultural curiosity.

Why Asia Is Gen Z’s First Big Travel Stage

Asia has always been a popular choice for Indian travellers, but for Gen Z, it has become the perfect fit. Affordable flights, shorter travel times and increasingly relaxed visa norms give them the freedom to travel spontaneously. More than 63 per cent of Indian outbound travellers chose Asia recently, and among Gen Z, this preference is even stronger. Thailand draws 21 per cent, Japan 19 per cent and Singapore 15 per cent of Indian travellers, a mix of party beaches, gaming districts, pop-culture hubs and urban attractions that feel tailor-made for young explorers.

For a generation that values quick gratification and immersive experiences, Asia offers variety without the price tag or logistical complexity of long-haul travel.

The Digital Influence On Travel Choices

Gen Z plans and dreams through screens. Social media trends, YouTube vlogs, OTT shows and aesthetic feeds shape their travel aspirations long before any ticket is booked. Nearly 60 per cent of travellers admit that platforms like Instagram, travel content and movies influence where they go, and this figure leans even higher among younger audiences.

Destinations like Seoul, Tokyo and Bangkok dominate online culture, from food reels to street-style videos, making them natural choices for a generation that wants travel to look as good as it feels.

Travel, for Gen Z, is an extension of identity. It’s a chance to dive in Phuket, café-hop in Seoul, explore neon-lit districts in Tokyo, or wander indie neighbourhoods in Osaka. Their itineraries double as personal milestones, aesthetic backdrops and content-creation opportunities.

Adventure and activity-led travel are particularly important to this generation. Data shows 54 per cent of Indians prefer adventure experiences, but Gen Z pushes this further—62 per cent of them plan to indulge in adventure sports on their next trip. A significant number also prefer flexibility, with 50 per cent saying they’re likely to rent a car, signalling their desire to explore beyond classic tourist circuits.

Asia’s ability to offer affordable adventure, from diving to hiking to water sports, makes it a natural magnet.

Gen Z travellers are tech-first and fiercely independent. About 60 per cent of Indians now plan their international trips on their own, using OTAs, travel apps, AI-based recommendations and social reviews rather than leaning on traditional agents. They are spontaneous, but not careless. More young travellers now opt for travel insurance, flexible payment systems and even short-term travel loans.

Interestingly, affordability tools are reshaping the geography of outbound travel. In the past year, 71 per cent of personal-loan-funded vacations came from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, showing how widespread the travel aspiration has become.

The Rise Of Non-Metro Travellers

One of the most striking shifts in India’s travel landscape is the rise of Gen Z travellers from smaller cities. Fuelled by rising disposable incomes, better internet exposure and easier access to credit, Tier-2 and Tier-3 travellers are increasingly taking their first international steps. Short-haul Asian destinations—relatively affordable and culturally vibrant, are often their entry points into global travel.

This trend is making India’s outbound movement more geographically inclusive and youth-driven than ever before.

Asia may be the comfort zone for now, but Gen Z’s gaze is set much wider. They show a growing interest in Europe, Australia and North America, even if affordability places these trips in the near-future bucket. As incomes rise and global cultural consumption widens, this generation is likely to push India’s travel footprint far beyond regional borders.

The Bottom Line

Gen Z is rewriting India’s travel narrative. They travel more often, plan digitally, spend thoughtfully, and choose experiences over luxury. Asia, dynamic, accessible and culturally vibrant, has become their launchpad into the world. As this generation continues to explore with curiosity and confidence, India’s outbound travel story is not just expanding; it’s evolving into a more youthful, adventurous and culturally plugged-in chapter.

FAQs

1. Why is Gen Z driving India’s outbound travel boom?
Gen Z travels more often, plans digitally, and prioritises immersive experiences, making them the fastest-growing outbound segment.

2. Why are Asian destinations so popular with young Indian travellers?
Short flights, easy visas, affordability, and high cultural/experiential diversity make Asia the perfect first international choice.

3. How does social media influence Gen Z’s travel decisions?
Trending reels, influencer itineraries, K-culture, anime, and viral aesthetics strongly shape what Gen Z wants to see and do.

4. What does the WanderSafe Report say about Gen Z’s travel behaviour?
It highlights rising adoption of travel insurance, digital payments, BNPL and app-based planning—especially among non-metro youth.

5. Are non-metro Gen Z travellers travelling abroad more?
Yes. Rising incomes, digital exposure and easier access to credit are driving a surge in outbound travel from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.