For most Indians, travel is an emotional journey filled with dreams, excitement, discovery. Now it’s also becoming a high-tech adventure. A new global study by Amadeus, titled ‘Connected Journeys: How Technology Will Transform Travel in the Next Decade’, reveals that Indian travellers are among the world’s most enthusiastic users of Artificial Intelligence (AI), biometrics, and digital tools for smarter and more seamless journeys.
The survey, which covered 9,500 travellers from countries including India, China, France, Singapore, Spain, the UK, and the USA, paints a clear picture that Indians are welcoming technology as their favourite travel companion.
India’s love affair with generative AI
Gone are the days of flipping through brochures or endlessly scrolling through travel websites. Today’s Indian traveller is turning to Generative AI for inspiration and planning. According to the Amadeus report, the use of GenAI among Indian travellers has risen sharply from 17% last year to 26% this year. In fact, one in three (33%) Indians have already used GenAI to plan a leisure trip abroad.
And the results? Almost everyone who used it came away happy. A whopping 97% said GenAI improved their experience. Nearly half (49%) said it saved them precious time, 45% discovered offbeat destinations they might never have found otherwise, and 44% enjoyed a more creative and spontaneous travel plan.
Loyalty programs shaping travel choices
The report also reveals that India leads in loyalty. A stunning 92% of Indian travellers are members of at least one loyalty program more than in most other countries. Travel brands, airlines, hotels are benefiting as these programs increasingly influence where and how people travel.
Loyalty memberships are doing more than just offering discounts. They’re changing behaviour. Nearly half of Indian travellers said these programs inspired them to take more leisure trips while others opted for premium upgrades or booked extra activities through their loyalty schemes.
The AI travel assistant dream
Imagine having a personal travel assistant who knows your preferences, gives you real-time updates, and handles everything from check-ins to itinerary changes. For most travellers, that dream is already taking shape.
Globally, 64% of people said they’d be willing to pay for an AI travel assistant to help during trips. Some even said they’d pay up to 5% of their total travel cost for the service.
The benefits are clear: time savings, customised plans, and the confidence of having accurate information on hand. But it’s not perfect yet. One in four travellers said they’ve encountered outdated or wrong information and another 25% felt AI still struggles to fully understand their personal likes and dislikes.
Amadeus President of Travel, Decius Valmorbida, summed it up well: “The rapid rise in Generative AI shows travellers want smarter, more personal journeys. But expectations are high and the industry must meet them. The key is collaboration to make AI truly valuable and intuitive.”
India leads the way in digital travel
India’s reputation as a tech-savvy nation is shining bright in the travel world. Mani Ganeshan, Senior Vice President and Head of APAC Engineering at Amadeus India, said it best: “In a digital-first country like India, travelers are not just ready for innovation. They expect it.”
He pointed to solutions like DigiYatra, India’s homegrown biometric boarding system which has already transformed airport experiences across major cities. With DigiYatra, check-ins and security clearances can take just minutes allowing travellers to breeze through terminals with a quick facial scan instead of long queues.
India’s growing comfort with digital payments especially through UPI and mobile wallets has also made it one of the most promising markets for biometric and contactless travel innovations. Travelers want speed, safety, and personalisation and India’s digital infrastructure is perfectly placed to deliver all three.
Calming the travel anxiety
Even in an age of convenience, one thing hasn’t changed. Yes, travel anxiety. The Amadeus study found that 9 out of 10 air travellers still experience some level of nervousness before or during their journey.
From packing woes to airport traffic, from long security lines to flight delays, these stress points are universal. Yet, technology is quietly helping reduce them.
Globally, two-thirds of travellers said they’d love a remote baggage check-in service that picks up luggage directly from home. About 74% of Indian travellers expressed excitement about biometric gateways, much higher than the global average of 69%. Clearly, the desire for a friction-less airport experience is stronger in India than almost anywhere else.
Other digital tools are also helping. Real-time travel apps, digital wallets for storing travel documents, and smart baggage trackers are becoming everyday essentials for modern travellers. Integrated “super apps”, which combine flights, hotels, payments, and navigation in one platform, are also gaining popularity.
What travelers really want
Interestingly, the study shows that people’s travel goals are shifting. Instead of chasing luxury, today’s travellers value connection, comfort, calm.
When asked what they hoped to gain from travel, 27% said quality time with loved ones topped their list, 25% wanted to explore great food and drinks, and 24% aimed to make lasting memories. But for nearly one in four (22%), the biggest wish was simply a smooth, disruption-free journey.
The story of travel in India is no longer about chaos and long lines. It has been more about confidence and control. From personalised itineraries to smart boarding gates, Indian travellers are stepping into an age where journeys are as unique. And for millions of these Indian explorers, every trip ahead promises to be faster and smarter.