Prime Highlights:
- Women now plan 72% of India’s leisure trips, managing everything from budgets and safety to activities and experiences.
- Women travellers focus on thoughtful planning, early bookings, and safety, making trips smoother and more enjoyable.
Key Facts:
- Domestic favorites for women include Rajasthan, Kerala, and Goa, while international picks include Bali, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- Tier 2 cities like Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Jaipur are seeing the fastest growth in women-led travel planning, with Indore growing 31% year-on-year.
Background:
A new report from Thrillophilia, a leading Indian travel platform, shows that leisure travel planning in India is changing. The Women & Travel Decisions 2025 study shows that women now plan 72% of leisure trips, taking care of budgets, safety, and activities.
The study, based on 212,000 itineraries and 8.9 million travel choices, shows that women plan trips earlier and more carefully. On average, they book nine days ahead, which reduces cancellations by 18% and keeps plans on track. They look at reviews and photos and talk with family or friends to plan a smooth and enjoyable trip. Interestingly, even when women handle planning, 62% of payments on couple trips are still made by men.
Women travellers tend to favor a “smart luxury” approach, selecting boutique stays, spa experiences, wellness walks, and leisurely mornings. Women’s trips have more useful upgrades, but they spend about the same amount as men. They pay extra attention to safety, using more checks, which leads to fewer problems.
In India, women like relaxed, affordable places such as Rajasthan, Kerala, and Goa. Abroad, they prefer Bali, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. For family trips, they plan slow mornings and early dinners, which keeps the schedule on track.
Cities like Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Jaipur are seeing the fastest growth in women-led travel planning, with Indore growing 31% from last year.
Chitra Gurnani Daga, Co-founder of Thrillophilia, said, “Women are curating smarter itineraries, prioritizing safety, and making meaningful choices without overspending. The travel industry is evolving with the rise of India’s She-Planner economy.”
