A new consumer survey by Experian shows that many people are still planning vacations even though travel has become more expensive. Rising prices and financial pressure have not reduced the desire to travel, and many consumers are willing to spend more or even borrow money to make their travel plans possible.
Many People Have Already Booked Their Trips
According to the survey, around 33% of consumers have already booked travel for the next year. However, 67% said that travelling is now less affordable than it was a year ago.
Despite higher costs, many people continue to give priority to holidays and travel experiences.
Many Consumers Are Ready to Borrow for Travel
The survey found that 36% of consumers are willing to take on debt to pay for travel, especially for major events and special experiences.
It also revealed that 79% of respondents would consider financing the cost of important events so they could attend them. At the same time, 39% said that the high price of event tickets is their biggest travel-related expense.
These findings show that many people are balancing rising costs with their desire to travel.
Indian Tourism Data
In 2026, India’s Travel & Tourism market is projected to reach US$34.44 billion, with the Hotels segment driving the largest volume at US$15.34 billion. Revenue is expected to grow by roughly 12% annually, pushing the sector to over US$54 billion by 2030.
Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) have settled at over 534,000 in early spring, with visitor arrivals consistently crossing 1 million in peak winter months.
States receiving the highest number of international and domestic tourist visits include Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
India Tourism Data in 2025
India recorded roughly 9.02 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and over 3 billion domestic tourist visits in 2025. This generated approximately USD 32 billion in inbound foreign exchange. Tourism contributed over 5.5% to the national GDP and sustained nearly 84 million direct and indirect jobs.
Uttar Pradesh topped domestic tourism, driven by high-traffic religious circuits like Ayodhya and the MahaKumbh, followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Maharashtra emerged as the top state for foreign tourist visits, followed by West Bengal and Gujarat.
