In 2024, fueled by a growing middle class and expanded route capacity, more Indians are traveling internationally than ever before, as per Mastercard Economics Institute’s fifth annual report, “Travel Trends 2024: Breaking Boundaries”.
In the first three months of 2024, 97 million passengers traveled through Indian airports, a figure that would have taken an entire year to achieve just a decade ago, The Economic Times reports.
Over the levels of 2019, domestic passenger traffic increased by 21%, while international travel increased by 4%. Top trending destinations for Indian travelers in summer 2024 include Amsterdam, Singapore, London, Frankfurt, and Melbourne.
The report highlighted a 248% increase in Indian visits to Vietnam, a 59% increase to the US, and a 53% increase to Japan compared to 2019, despite a stronger US dollar.
Spending on experiences, especially nightlife, totals 12% of tourism sales, the highest in at least five years, and fine dining in India saw a 55.2% increase compared to the previous year.