CHENNAI: A few years ago, travelling happened only during long holidays, with family and friends. But over time, travel has become a norm for Chennaiites to escape their stressful routines. This trend is not confined to youngsters or families alone. Even solo travellers and senior citizens are pushing boundaries, becoming travellers rather than just tourists.
Experiential travel on a high scale, Swaminathan S, co-founder of Exoticamp, believes that the Chennai crowd is not ready for luxury travel yet, but is leaning more towards experiential trips. “We are easily influenced by the culture of the US. For them, a weekend break is non-negotiable. We are now reaching a stage where travel is becoming part of our lifestyle, and people are developing a fear of missing out. The old format of tourism is gradually moving towards a more personalised space,” he says.
Now, the trend is shifting towards parents wanting to create space for their children to take a break from gadgets. “They are looking for detox escapades. More than adventure seekers, experiential preferences are high now, people want to spend serene time connecting with nature,” he adds.
Talking about domestic destinations that will gain popularity in 2026, the co-founder gives Ladakh the top spot. “Connectivity has improved now. Earlier, Ladakh was preferred mainly by adventure travellers. But now, even families are choosing it,” he states. He also predicts that road trips will gain prominence because of the Indigo issue.
Underexplored international destinations that could steal the spotlight include Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Kazakhstan, as they are cost-efficient. “International trips will see many first-time travellers, who opt for destinations with fewer visa issues,” Swaminathan notes.
Konkan regions will steal the spotlight.
A budget-friendly trip planner in Chennai, Siranjeevi S, tells DT Next that travel has become a passion, and many agencies are emerging. “Women and senior citizens are travelling more now. Instead of being tourists, they are becoming travellers, exploring the culture of destinations rather than just popular spots,” he says.
According to him, hill stations are trending. “In 2026, the Konkan region in Karnataka, which is less crowded and has pleasant weather, will attract attention. Heritage spots in Tamil Nadu will also be in the limelight,” adds the trip planner, who runs the Instagram page Travel With Sivi. When it comes to international travel, budget-friendly destinations like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka will be explored beyond Instagrammable spots.
Himachal Pradesh: One of the safest for solo women travellers
Suvalakshmi, an IT professional, has been solo travelling for several years. “Since COVID, the norm has changed enormously. Safety was always a concern for women travellers. But now, with more awareness about destinations, thanks to social media, the number is increasing,” she shares. The digital tools she uses to book accommodation include Airbnb or directly contacting stays she discovers on Instagram.
According to Suvalakshmi, the safest place for women to travel in India is Himachal Pradesh, while Delhi lies at the bottom of the list. “Travelling solo gives women the flexibility to explore the unexplored,” adds the 27-year-old, who began her travel journey for work and evolved with it.
She forecasts that Darjeeling, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Shillong will trend in 2026. “Jaipur and Udaipur will also be in the limelight,” she notes.
ChatGPT: Yet to become a game changer
The impact of Artificial Intelligence across industries is undeniable, and travel is no exception. “ChatGPT is a second-level tool for travellers. Instagram and YouTube remain the first points of exploration. AI has not yet reached a level where people can blindly trust it. From being curators, travel planners have now become experts, continuing our role at a different level,” states Swaminathan.
Agreeing with this, Siranjeevi says, “People can get an itinerary from AI, but should cross-check with experts to be on the safer side.”
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