To provide a deeper understanding of how India is exploring, planning, and engaging with travel in a highly connected environment, we are sharing key insights from a compelling panel discussion titled ‘Skyscanner Presents Transforming India’s Travel Future – Technology, Partnership, and Innovation’ in collaboration with CNBC-TV18.
This article compiles valuable perspectives from industry leaders who are at the forefront of this transformation within the travel ecosystem. The distinguished panellists include Neel Ghose (Country Manager and General Manager, Skyscanner), Govind Bansal (Head of Marketing, Cleartrip), and Sagar Naik (Vice President, Commercial and Sales, Akasa Air).
Inside India’s Travel Ecosystem
The landscape of travel in India is undergoing significant change, primarily due to the expanding middle class and rising disposable incomes. Emerging travel trends are markedly altering how Indians search for and plan their travels.
Reflecting on this evolution, Neel Ghose from Skyscanner highlights two key travel trends influencing traveller behaviour today. He notes, “The foremost trend we are observing now is the increasing outbound aspirations among Indians. Indian travellers are showing a heightened preference for international vacations despite current economic and operational challenges. If you look back three years, 80% of Skyscanner searches were domestic, with only 20% being international. Today, outbound travel from India has seen remarkable growth, with 51% of Skyscanner searches being domestic and 49% international. The second major trend is the rising premiumisation of travel among newly affluent Indians. Modern travellers are looking beyond cost, willing to invest more for superior experiences, comfort, and personalised services.”
These trends illustrate how Indian travellers are transitioning from cost-conscious tourists to more experience-driven and globally oriented consumers, reshaping the future of the travel industry in India.
Govind Bansal from Cleartrip adds another layer of insight into how Indian travellers make decisions today and how their travel behaviours are changing. He remarks, “Today’s travellers are more intent-driven. They often begin their search without a fixed destination in mind, instead starting with a particular mood, travel window, and budget, relying on platforms to compare and identify the best options.” He also mentions, “Modern travellers prioritize value over low prices, focusing on quality, convenience, and the overall experiential return on investment rather than merely looking for cheaper options.”
Another notable trend is the increasing travel demand emerging from cities beyond the metro regions. Sagar Naik from Akasa Air observes, “Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in India have become the main drivers of travel demand. There’s a growing influx of first-time flyers in India, with unprecedented numbers taking to the skies.”
Partnerships Powering Seamless Travel Journeys
Today’s travel ecosystem is becoming more interconnected, with various partners collaborating to facilitate a smooth customer journey. Through strategic partnerships and integrated technology, these platforms aid travellers from inspiration and planning to booking and experiencing, ultimately enhancing the personalised and connected travel experience. Govind Bansal from Cleartrip emphasizes the importance of deep investments in ecosystem partnerships to ensure a seamless end-to-end travel experience for customers.
Sagar Naik from Akasa Air adds, “Collaborating with metasearch travel platforms like Skyscanner, which boasts over 160 million customers in its database, provides us with substantial visibility and valuable traveller insights. By closely working with them and analyzing emerging demand trends, we can better forecast future travel patterns and strategically grow routes and sectors where we identify significant opportunities in the coming years.”
Technology Driving India’s Travel Evolution
Technology is revolutionizing the travel experience, making discovery, planning, booking, and personalization faster, smarter, and more frictionless than ever before. Notably, India is witnessing a level of AI adoption in travel that surpasses global averages. According to Skyscanner’s 2026 travel trends research, 86% of Indian travellers feel confident using AI for travel planning, well above the global average of 54%.
Neel Ghose from Skyscanner explains, “We are harnessing AI technologies to make travel discovery more intuitive, personalized, and seamless for modern travellers. Furthermore, our partnership with OpenAI enables us to integrate our flight search capabilities directly into ChatGPT across 66 global markets, allowing customers to plan trips, compare prices, and receive tailored travel recommendations through conversational AI instead of relying solely on traditional search filters.” For more insights, check out the panel discussion video. Click here to download the Skyscanner app.
Challenges Across the Travel Ecosystem
While India is becoming a global travel powerhouse, certain challenges persist, such as price volatility and uncertainty. Navigating these challenges is vital for building trust. Transparency and a collective focus among ecosystem partners are essential to overcoming these hurdles.
Neel Ghose from Skyscanner states, “Sharing real-time data can empower travellers to make more informed decisions, ensuring an optimal travel experience.” Sagar Naik from Akasa Air and Govind Bansal from Cleartrip emphasize that collaboration within the ecosystem can help mitigate price fluctuations and deliver an improved travel experience for customers.
Wrapping Up
Today, India stands not only as a growth market but also as a key player in redefining global travel. Intelligent technology, collaborative ecosystems, and a deep understanding of the aspirations of modern travellers contribute to delivering a seamless travel experience.
