GST 2.0 and Festive Cheer Fuel 22% Uptick in Smart Leisure Bookings, Claims Thrillophilia
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, October 14, 2025: India’s festive travel season is in full swing, and this year, travellers are clearly choosing “smart luxury” over indulgent splurges. According to Thrillophilia, India’s leading AI-powered travel and experiences platform, affordable leisure stays priced between Rs2,000–Rs6,000 per night have surged by 22% year-on-year, now accounting for 48% of all bookings. This marks a clear shift from high-end vacations to value-driven, experience-rich escapes, a trend catalysed by the GST 2.0 rollout and a buoyant festive season.
Thrillophilia’s data shows that short breaks and weekend getaways are driving the season, with two to three-night trips making up 58% of all stays, up six percentage points from last year. The average trip duration stands at 2.6 nights, suggesting that travellers are taking more frequent, shorter trips rather than longer holidays. Booking behaviour has also evolved, with the average booking window now at 21 days, three days earlier than last year reflecting a more planned, confident travel mindset.
“India’s new default is smart luxury, with savings on the bed, splurge on the day.. With travel feeling slightly more affordable, people are more open to taking that extra trip or upgrading their stay. This is a healthy sign for both travellers and hospitality operators in emerging leisure destinations.” said Abhishek Daga, Co-Founder, Thrillophilia.
Interestingly, travellers are also becoming smarter about how they spend. Air travel trends show a 21% rise in the use of miles and upgrade vouchers, while premium-cabin share has dipped by 2.8 percentage points compared to Diwali 2024. Rather than splurging on business class or five-star hotels, people are choosing boutique stays and redirecting their savings toward premium day experiences. Trekking bookings are up by 27%, local sightseeing by 24%, and cultural and culinary activities by 22%, with the average activity basket now at Rs3,600. The result: a redefined idea of luxury one that’s rooted in experiences rather than excess.
At the city level, Jaipur has emerged as India’s most vibrant affordable-stay market, with stays in the Rs2,000–Rs6,000 band up 26% year-on-year. Lucknow leads in family short-breaks, where two to three-night trips now make up 59% of all stays, a seven-point jump from last year. Bhopal has recorded the highest weekend occupancy at 81%, while Hyderabad is India’s top early-planning market, with the average booking window stretching to 24 days compared to 19 last year. In the east, Bhubaneswar tops activity-led growth with adventure and cultural bookings up 31% year-on-year, averaging Rs3,200 per trip. Chennai has seen the largest increase in miles and voucher usage (+23% YoY), while Kolkata dominates short-trip bookings, with 61% of stays lasting two to three nights. Patna shows the fastest festive booking velocity Diwali-week inventory sold out three days earlier than last year while Panaji leads the boutique-stay trend, where boutique and homestay properties now account for 54% of all nights booked.
Across all categories, the average spend on domestic trips ranges between Rs25,000–Rs45,000, while short-haul international holidays average between Rs60,000–Rs95,000. Travellers are not necessarily cutting back; they're simply redistributing their budgets, spending less on rooms and more on meaningful experiences. This “smart luxury” mindset, driven by tax savings and a refreshed sense of affordability, is shaping a new phase of travel growth in India.
With over 5,000 partners across 200 destinations, Thrillophilia continues to lead the shift toward experience-first, tech-enabled travel. As festive demand peaks, the platform’s data highlights a clear consumer sentiment: Indians are travelling more, planning better, and making every trip count one smart weekend at a time.
