Travel in India is evolving rapidly as technology reshapes the entire journey from planning to boarding. A new study from Amadeus reveals that Indian travellers are leading the adoption of generative AI and biometric systems, signalling a major shift in how trips get packaged, booked and experienced. The momentum builds on India’s digital infrastructure and rising traveller expectations.
Surge in AI Adoption by Indian Travellers
The Amadeus research shows a jump in generative AI usage among Indian travellers—from around 17% last year to 26% this year. Moreover, 33% of Indian travellers say they used AI for planning leisure trips abroad. The findings suggest travel tech goes well beyond simple tools—it now supports meaningful decision-making. Among those who used it, 97% reported positive outcomes: 49% saved time, 45% discovered new destinations and 44% found creative experiences through AI support.
These numbers show that Indian travellers do not view AI as optional—they expect it. The rise in usage reflects both wider availability of smart tech and changing mindsets: travellers now want more personalized, seamless and efficient journeys rather than generic travel experiences. With India’s strong mobile and digital ecosystem, the market is ready.
Loyalty Programs Gain Influence in Travel Decisions
Technology isn’t the only driver. The study also highlights how loyalty programmes shape travel choices. In India, 92% of travellers are enrolled in at least one loyalty scheme, and 37% of those use loyalty benefits for leisure travel. These programmes influence behaviour: 49% of respondents took extra activities via loyalty offers, while 46% were willing to pay more for premium experiences.
These findings indicate that today’s traveller seeks more than just a trip—they seek value, reward and recognition. Combined with AI tools that personalise suggestions, loyalty schemes become powerful levers to guide repeat visits, higher-value bookings and improved traveller satisfaction.
Global Trends Support Indian Momentum
The global data reinforces the Indian story. Generative AI usage in travel is up 64% year-on-year worldwide. Travel tech benefits include time savings (42%), personalized recommendations (37%) and destination discovery (36%). Also, 35% of global users say AI increased their confidence in travel decisions. Furthermore, 64% of travellers globally say they would pay for an AI travel assistant, showing willingness to invest in smarter journeys.
India aligns well with these trends but adds speed and scale. Indian travellers are not just adopting—they are demanding smarter experiences, faster responses and deeper personalization.
Biometric Tech and Airport Efficiency
Beyond planning, Indian airports and airlines are harnessing biometric technology to reduce travel friction. Indian travellers show strong acceptance of biometric gateways—reported at 74%—which is higher than many global markets. These systems accelerate check-in, security clearance and boarding, cutting down delays and improving convenience for travellers.
As airports increasingly adopt systems like India’s DigiYatra for facial recognition boarding and bag drop, travellers benefit in a tangible way: less waiting, fewer manual steps and smoother transitions. In a country with growing air traffic and evolving infrastructure, these innovations help scale travel experiences effectively.
Reducing Travel Anxiety with Tech
Travel still involves stress, especially around packing, security and delays. The Amadeus study found that 90% of air travellers report some form of anxiety during their journey. Fortunately, technology helps ease those pain points. Remote baggage check-in, biometric boarding and real-time status updates all contribute to a more confident travel experience.
In India, tech-enabled processes help reduce waiting times, streamline airport checks and minimise travel disruptions. For travellers who value comfort, insight and control, these features become critical to satisfaction.
Implications for Destinations and Travel Businesses
For travel destinations and service providers in India and beyond, these shifts offer clear strategic signals. To stay competitive, businesses must:
- Embrace AI-enabled tools for itinerary suggestions, chatbots and personalised experiences.
- Integrate biometric and smart check-in processes to reduce friction at airports and hotels.
- Design loyalty programmes aligned with digital journeys and high-value traveler segments.
- Prepare for a market where travellers expect both technology and human support when needed.
- Ensure that underlying data and personalization frameworks respect privacy, transparency and reliability, as travellers’ expectations rise.
Destinations that invest in these areas—especially less-explored regions in India—can capitalise on technology’s ability to uncover hidden gems, improve accessibility and attract new markets that prefer tech-enhanced travel.
India as a Hub for Travel Innovation
India’s digital ecosystem, mobile-first demographic and tech-savvy population position the country as a travel innovation leader. Developers, airlines, hotels and travel platforms increasingly invest in India for AI development, data analytics and operational innovation. Indian travellers therefore benefit from both adoption and home-grown innovation.
The combination of AI planning tools, biometric boarding, loyalty mechanisms and mobile-friendly systems creates a compelling value proposition. For international visitors, India may soon feature among the most seamless travel markets in the world.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Even as adoption surges, challenges remain. Some travellers still report outdated AI recommendations or systems that don’t fully understand personal preferences—the study found about 25% of users experienced such issues. The industry must enhance accuracy, personalization and human-in-the-loop capabilities to sustain trust.
Furthermore, tech alone cannot substitute emotional connection, human service or local authenticity. Travel businesses must balance digital efficiency with genuine human experience, cultural immersion and destination uniqueness.
Final Word
The travel revolution is underway in India. Generative AI, biometric boarding and loyalty-driven experiences are reshaping the journey from planning to arrival. Indian travellers lead in adoption, and the global travel industry is taking notice. For travellers, this means smarter, faster, more tailored journeys. For destinations and providers, it means new expectations, new tools and new opportunities. The future of travel is here—and it’s intelligent, connected and confident.
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