Not just reels, real trips: Gen Z powers India’s global getaway

What happens when a country’s per-person income doubles in ten years? Well, people start travelling a lot more. And if you need proof, look no further. Indians are jet-setting like never before.

According to Tourism Ministry data, in 2024, 3.02 crore Indians went abroad. That’s a sharp rise from 2.78 crore in the previous year. Estimates suggest that in just five years, by 2030, the number of outbound Indian travellers will soar to 5 crore.

Who’s driving this surge?

The increase in the number of outbound travellers from India is driven by the young crowd. According to the ACKO India Travel Report 2025, out of every 100 Indians travelling abroad, 48 are Gen Z or millennials. What’s more interesting is that more than a third of them are under 35.

In fact, one survey by Outbox in 2024 found that 70% of Indians aged 18–34 were planning to take at least one international trip in the next six months.

On the other hand, a Skyscanner report from 2024 showed that almost 50% of Gen Z in India were planning their first independent international trip. In fact, over 80% of them chose to embark only after cashing in their first pay cheque.

Another report showed that two out of three Gen Z travellers were actually saving up instead of taking loans.

How do young Indians travel?

Different reports and surveys have also looked at the travel preferences of Indian youth. Many youngsters love to travel for sports or major cultural events – trips which are mostly planned well in advance. On the other hand, a growing number of travellers prefer spontaneous plans and shorter stays.

A stronger passport

What really helps those choosing spontaneous plans are easier entry rules. According to the Henley Passport Index, India’s passport ranking has jumped from 88th position in 2024 to 77th in 2025.

With the Indian passport getting stronger every year, you can now travel to 59 countries visa-free or on a visa-on-arrival basis. The list includes multiple destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

July traffic data from MakeMyTrip highlights this shift. The platform’s Group CEO, Rajesh Magow, told the Economic Times that of the top 15 international destinations attracting the highest traffic on the platform, five offered visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry, and another six had e-visas.

Growing aviation network

Easier entry rules, coupled with the availability of short-haul flights, have led to a spike in the number of Indians travelling to several neighbouring countries.

According to MakeMyTrip data, traffic to Thailand grew by 32% in July 2025 compared to July 2024. Indonesia saw a 21% uptick, while Sri Lanka witnessed a staggering 64% rise.

Bottom line? Young Indians aren’t just watching travel videos, they’re living them.