The world could see a wave of Indian travelers in the coming decade—nine charts reveal key trends and case studies of how destinations can attract and delight these Indian travelers.
Boosted by rising economic prosperity and a fast-growing economy, India is set to be an important global source market for leisure travel. India is now the fifth-largest economy, and its population has surpassed China’s to become the largest in the world, at over 1.4 billion people. 1 World Bank national accounts data, GDP (current US$) India, accessed September 2023; World population prospects 2022, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2022. And the population is young—the median age is 27.6, more than ten years younger than that of most major economies. 2 World population prospects 2022. What's more, consumption of goods and services, including leisure and recreation, is forecast to double by 2030. 3 “India’s impending economic boom,” Morgan Stanley, November 8, 2022. Adding a strong postpandemic travel recovery, and a growing appetite for international travel, these factors point to India’s significant potential for outbound tourism.
India is now the fifth-largest economy, and its population has surpassed China’s to become the largest in the world, at over 1.4 billion people.
Through nine charts, this article unpacks trends and opportunities in the Indian travel market. Selected country examples shed light on how destinations can enhance their value propositions to attract and delight Indian travelers.
Indian globetrotters set to soarThe country’s forecast growth in GDP per capita, accompanied by a growing propensity for international travel, could lead to a wave of Indian travelers setting out to see the world. If India follows China’s outbound travel trajectory (which it could, due to similarity in population size and per capita income trajectory), then Indian tourists could make 80 million to 90 million trips a year by 2040.