Goa ranks as the most searched domestic destination, followed by Mumbai, Udaipur, Delhi, Jaipur, Manali, Puri, Bangalore, Munnar, Varanasi, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, Hyderabad, Ooty, Jaisalmer, Kolkata, Coorg, Mussoorie, Pondicherry and Shimla, according to MakeMyTrip's search and booking trends for India covering the period from December 16 to 31, 2024.

The report notes that hill destinations across North and South India make up 40% of the top 20 most searched domestic locations.

“The top 20 domestic cities contribute 40% of all searches for travel during the upcoming holiday season,” the report adds.

Destinations like Manali, Varanasi, Mussoories and Udaipur witnessed double-digit percentage growth in searches, it notes.

Like last year, the Saturday before Christmas i.e. December 21st remains the most likeable travel date for both domestic and international trips. “However, for domestic hotel searches, there is also a spike in interest for travel starting Dec 25th which indicates that travelers might be extending their holidays beyond Christmas till New Years Day.”

In terms of international destinations, around 83% of all searches are concentrated on the top 20 international destinations during the upcoming holiday season. International destinations like Azerbaijan and Malaysia have seen a huge surge in searches, with growth rates of whopping 248% and 100%, respectively. Meanwhile, Japan, Vietnam and Turkey have recorded strong double-digit growth in searches.

The top 10 most searched international destinations are led by the UAE, followed by Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the USA, Vietnam, the UK, Sri Lanka, and Australia.

The only international destinations in the top 20 that witnessed a drop in searches are Canada and Maldives, with Canada currently ranking 11th and Maldives 13th.

Solo travel for international trips has grown by 34% compared to last year. Business class bookings are rising with an 80% surge in business class bookings for international flights and 27% rise for domestic flights. Overall, business class bookings across domestic and international travel have increased by 50% YoY. 

The share of hotel bookings for domestic destinations priced above ₹10,000 has risen to 22%, up from 20% during the same period last year. Whereas, the hotel bookings for international destinations priced above ₹10,000 increased to 57% in 2024, from 51% last year. The average expense on a year-end holiday has surged by 7% this year. 

“The trend toward premiumisation is becoming increasingly pronounced, as travelers are willing to spend more for a memorable holiday. Bookings for travel in pairs and families continue to be dominant during the holiday season while the share of solo travelers is also on the rise, particularly among international travelers,” says Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO, MakeMyTrip. 

Digital travel platform Agoda revealed a 53% increase in international accommodation searches by Indian travellers for the holiday compared to last year. It noted that Phuket has surpassed Bangkok as the most popular international destination for Indian travellers this year, followed by Dubai, Bangkok, Pattaya and Bali.

“While international travel is on the rise, domestic travel remains strong, with a 14% increase in searches compared to last year. Goa continues to dominate as the most popular domestic New Year’s Eve destination, retaining its top spot,” it states.

The highest interest in Indian destinations comes from international travellers from the USA, Singapore, and the UAE, with Goa taking the most favoured destination.