Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), recently announced the key findings from its latest travel trend report, “South India Travel Insights 2025”.
The study reveals a discovery-led generation of leisure travellers from South India who are rethinking the way they plan and experience travel.
Commissioned by Scoot, the YouGov survey results of around 1,600 respondents from five major South Indian cities – Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, and Visakhapatnam – uncovered a growing appetite for lesser-travelled international destinations over traditional tourist hotspots.
Scoot’s findings showed that travellers from South India increasingly seek more unique and personal travel experiences. The report reveals that more than half of the respondents (56%) now prefer exploring lesser-travelled destinations, and a remarkable 89% are planning to visit one in the next 12 months.
This trend reflects a broader change in travel mindset, with 45% of respondents stating their preference for unconventional destinations has grown over the past three years.
When asked what drives these preferences, respondents cited budget-friendliness (46%), less-crowded spaces (43%), easy visa processes (38%), affordable flight tickets (38%), and flight availability (37%) as top considerations. Destinations like Krabi (Thailand), Darwin (Australia), and Chiang Rai (Thailand) are emerging as some of these unconventional favourites among South Indian travellers.
The spirit of independent exploration is also on the rise, with three in four (74%) respondents planning to take a solo international trip in 2026. This growing segment is evenly split on their choice of destination, with 51% favouring a lesser-travelled destination and 49% opting for a familiar hotspot for their solo adventures.
Sightseeing and attractions (26%), adventure holidays (23%), and visiting family and friends (19%) remain the leading reasons for upcoming travel. Coupled with the fact that three in four respondents plan to travel solo, this signals a growing inclination towards independent, self-directed travel experiences.
