Thrillophilia Reports reveals how women now shape most of India’s travel decisions
Thrillophilia, India’s leading AI powered multi day tours platform, has released its Women and Travel Decisions 2025 report, revealing a profound shift taking place across Indian households. Travel decisions are no longer driven by agents or algorithms. The primary planner today is the woman who filters options, manages budgets, ensures safety and ultimately shapes the family’s entire travel experience.
Based on an analysis of 212,000 itineraries and 8.9 million planning signals, the report shows that women now influence or directly design 72 percent of India’s leisure trips. Their approach spans budgeting, destination filtering, lifestyle considerations, emotional comfort and experience curation, redefining how Indian families plan holidays.
The research highlights that women book earlier, compare more thoroughly and run detailed checks before confirming a trip. On average, they book nine days in advance, helping avoid price surges, keeping itineraries stable and reducing cancellations by 18 percent. Women also read more reviews, examine more photos and circulate more itinerary drafts within family and friends groups to ensure every aspect is considered. Although women design most couple trips, 62 percent of payments are still made by men.
Thrillophilia’s data further reveals a distinct aesthetic that women prefer, described as a smart luxury ethos. These choices prioritise boutique stays, wellness walks, spa sessions, curated experiences and slow mornings rather than flashy spending. Women add 28 percent more premium upgrades to their carts, yet they end up spending only 6 percent more than men. This confirms that women are not splurging more; they are splurging smarter.
Safety remains a central factor in female travel planning. Women apply over three times as many safety filters as men, which has resulted in fewer trip disruptions and a 23 percent reduction in SOS calls across trips planned by women.
Chitra Gurnani Daga, Co founder of Thrillophilia, said, “Indian leisure is increasingly a She-Planner economy. Women are curating smarter itineraries, earlier bookings, safety-first choices, and meaningful upgrades without blowing the budget. As women continue to lead India’s travel decisions, the industry is shifting toward more thoughtful planning, better value choices, and deeply curated experiences.”
Domestic preferences among women lean toward value rich, unhurried destinations such as Rajasthan and Kerala, with Goa taking the third spot. Internationally, women favour destinations that balance value and luxury, including Bali, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. When travelling with children or extended family, women tend to choose slow mornings, one marquee activity per day and early dinners, resulting in 7 percent fewer itinerary reschedules. This approach supports smoother, more predictable holidays.
The strongest growth is emerging from India’s Tier 2 cities. Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Jaipur are among the fastest growing hubs for women planners, with Indore alone recording 31 percent year on year growth.
As India evolves into a She Planner Economy, the future of domestic and international holidays will increasingly be shaped by a women led travel ecosystem that prioritises thoughtful planning, value driven decisions and deeply meaningful experiences.
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