According to Skyscanner’s most recent ‘Travel Trends Report,’ Shillong is the only Indian city to be featured on this esteemed list of popular travel destinations. Many Indian tourists who are looking for natural beauty and cultural diversity closer to home have fallen in love with Shillong, affectionately known as the “Scotland of the East” for its picturesque hills and verdant landscapes.

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As per the said report, Indian tourists seeking to combine adventure and leisure are drawn to Baku, Langkawi, and other lesser-known foreign destinations like Tromsø in Norway, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, and Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia. This change in tastes reflects a larger tendency to visit unusual and largely unexplored locations.

As per the report, Indian tourists are also prioritising affordability in their travel plans. According to Skyscanner’s travel and destinations expert, cost plays a deciding factor for Indian travellers, with nearly two-thirds considering hotel, flight, and food prices while planning their trips. To assist budget-conscious travellers, the report features a ‘Best Value Destinations’ category, spotlighting destinations with significant drops in airfare over the past year.

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At the top of this list is Almaty, Kazakhstan, where flights from India have decreased by 44%. Significant price cuts have also been achieved in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta, making them all desirable locations for budget travel.

Reports add that Indian travellers are now increasingly looking for experiential travel, and seeking unique and engaging travel experiences. As per the survey, the demand for immersive art events and live sports has significantly increased. For example, people have gone ahead and reserved their seats for the Formula 1 event on December 2, the reason why the rate of flight tickets to Abu Dhabi have increased by 188%. Then it has also been found that nearly half of younger tourists are interested in art experiences that permit direct participation and engagement, and younger tourists, especially those between the ages of 25 and 34, are also enthusiastic about live events.

‘Gami-Vacation’ and ‘Astro-adventures’ have gained popularity, and the appeal of gaming-themed travel places and stargazing experiences has generated a lot of attention.

Due to these changing travel requirements, Indian tourists are rethinking their travel objectives and discovering new places both domestically and abroad. With Shillong at the forefront, meaningful, value-driven, and immersive experiences will be the focus of Indian tourism in 2025.