60% book their trips independently or through OTAs
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, 9 th December 2025: ICICI Lombard General Insurance, India’s leading private general insurer, today unveiled its inaugural travel trends study, the ‘WanderSafe Report 2025’.
Conducted in partnership with Hansa Research, the report captures insights from Indian international travellers. As a comprehensive, one-of-its-kind publication, it offers a data-backed view of the travel ecosystem, built on extensive primary and secondary research and enriched with strategic inputs from senior leaders, influential partners, and key industry stakeholders.
The study reveals emerging travel behaviours, evolving perceptions of travel insurance, and noteworthy patterns across metro cities and Tier 1 towns.
The survey, which included perspectives from Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X travellers (63%
male, 37% female), indicates a strong overall preference for Asian destinations, supported by
convenient visa processes and improved connectivity. North America continues to hold
significant appeal as well. The study also highlights clear generational differences, with younger
travellers—particularly Gen Z and Millennials—showing greater interest in long-haul
destinations such as Australia and Europe/UK compared to Gen X.
According to the WanderSafe Report 2025, overall awareness of travel insurance in India is
high, with nearly 88% of travellers reporting familiarity, driven by recent disruptions such as
flight delays, climate events, and global conflicts. The report also highlights a major digital shift,
with digital-first journeys and embedded insurance solutions becoming increasingly common,
and consumers now expecting flexible, personalised, and on-demand protection that fits
seamlessly into their travel planning.
In response to these evolving needs, ICICI Lombard introduced TripSecure+, its AI-enabled,
adaptive travel product designed to deliver customised, continuous protection throughout the
journey. In early 2025, ICICI Lombard became the first insurer in India to launch an AI-
generated travel safety anthem, reflecting its commitment to making travel protection engaging
and meaningful.
Mr. Anand Singhi – Chief Retail & Government Business, ICICI Lombard, said; "Indian
travellers today are exploring the world with greater confidence, purpose and
independence - and they expect the same from their protection. The WanderSafe Report
2025 makes it clear that while destinations are getting more exciting and itineraries
more self-curated, uncertainties have also become more complex. Our role is to simplify
these journeys. At ICICI Lombard, with AI-powered solutions like TripSecure+ we are
reimagining travel insurance to be intuitive, adaptive and always-on, so that every
traveller - from the digital-native Gen Z explorer to the family vacationer, can focus on
what truly matters- enriching and memorable experiences.”
Key Highlights from the WanderSafe Report 2025
Indians Are Travelling More – Asia Leads the Way
63% of Indian outbound travellers preferred Asia as their top destination, with
Thailand, Japan, and Singapore leading the choice due to easier visa processes and
strong air connectivity.
Nearly half of Indian travellers (48%) indicated that Asia would be their destination for
their next international trip.
North America, particularly the USA, emerged as the second-most preferred region,
reflecting growing interest in long-haul travel.
Younger Travellers Are Exploring Farther
Gen Z and Millennials show a stronger preference for long-haul destinations like
Australia and Europe/UK, in contrast to Gen X, who largely prefer nearby destinations.
Australia is emerging as a rising favourite, especially among Gen Y travellers, with 48%
planning trips, outpacing Gen X.
These trends indicate a growing appetite for experiential and exploration-focused travel
beyond traditional short-haul routes.
Travel Preferences Are Evolving
A majority of travellers (64%) prefer to travel with spouses, partners, or friends,
reflecting the social nature of modern travel.
Gen Z is redefining norms: they are 3x more likely to travel solo and 4x more likely
to travel with colleagues, blending work and leisure (bleisure travel).
These behaviours suggest that travellers are seeking independence, flexibility, and
authentic experiences over conventional itineraries.
Trips Are Becoming More Purposeful
Almost two-thirds of Indian travellers (64%) prefer international trips lasting up to two
weeks, while families with children opting for longer getaways.
Experience-first travel is booming: adventure sports, multi-country trips, water sports,
and cultural exploration are increasingly popular.
Gen Z leads the adventure trend: 62% plan to engage in adventure sports on their
next trip, and 50% are likely to rent vehicles, demonstrating a preference for flexibility
and self-curated experiences.
Planning Is Digital, But Challenges Persist
60% of travellers book independently or through Online Travel Agency (OTAs),
reflecting growing digital confidence.
Nevertheless, 30% still rely on travel agents, especially for convenience, guided
experiences, or complex itineraries.
Gen X travellers are 2.6x more likely to rely on others—often their children—to plan
and book trips, highlighting generational differences in digital adoption.
41% of travellers reported challenges related to visas, logistics, and clarity of
insurance coverage, showing that digital confidence does not fully eliminate friction in
travel planning.
Travel Insurance Awareness Is Rising, but Gaps Remain
Overall awareness of travel insurance is high (88%), but detailed understanding and
purchase intent lag.
Among travellers with low purchase intent, 49% cited lack of awareness, 34% cited
cost concerns, and 21% felt it was not beneficial, with others citing difficulty in policy
purchase.
Post-pandemic, 64% of travellers actively search for travel insurance, up from 54%
in pre-pandemic years, reflecting growing recognition of the importance of protection.
Travellers associate insurance with key protections: accidental death, hospitalization,
flight cancellations, baggage loss, and coverage for adventure activities.
Top claims include medical expenses, trip cancellations, delays, baggage loss, and loss of
travel documents, with common claim rejections due to policy exclusions,
deductibles, or unmet conditions.
Emerging Travel Insurance Trends
The industry is witnessing digital-first and embedded insurance solutions,
parametric and instant payouts, hybrid coverage models, and flexible, on-demand
protection.
Other trends include telemedicine integration, emphasis on cybersecurity,
sustainability initiatives, and premium responses to disruption.
These trends reflect a generational shift toward safety, personalization, and
technology-driven convenience, creating opportunities for insurers to deliver more
relevant and accessible products.
Report Link https://www.icicilombard.com/consumer-insights
