75% Indians favour experience-led holidays: Thomas Cook Report
Representative Image
Popular celebrations include La Tomatina Festival, Oktoberfest, Mardi Gras, Rio Carnival, Rann Utsav, Hornbill Festival and more.
Data from Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company SOTC Travel, highlights a significant change in Indian travel preferences towards festival and cultural event tourism. As outlined in the India Holiday Report, nearly 75% of respondents expressed a strong interest in experience-led holidays, reflecting a broader trend where travel is no longer confined to specific seasons but is now driven by year-round events and festivals.
Travellers are actively seeking opportunities to participate in festivals and carnivals, viewing them as gateways to authentic cultural engagement and memorable experiences. Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel have curated a portfolio of festival led holidays – spanning from the most celebrated festivals to lesser known in India and around the world.
The portfolio includes La Tomatina in Spain (Aug 2025); Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany (Sept 2025); the Boryeong Mud Festival in South Korea (July - Aug 2025); Mombasa Carnival in Kenya (Nov 2025); In Brazil, Rio Carnival (Feb 2026); Mardi Gras in New Orleans, US (Feb 2026); The Venice Carnival, Italy (Feb/March 2026); Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan (Feb 2026); Moomba Festival in Victoria, Australia (March 2026); In Malaysia, Chinese New Year (Feb–March 2026); Lantern Festival in Hoi An, Vietnam (March 2026); and Songkran in Thailand (April 2026)
Indian portfolio includes Onam Festival in Kerala (Sept 2025); Rann Utsav in Gujarat (Oct 2025 - March 2026); Rajasthan’s the Pushkar Mela (Nov 2025); Hornbill Festival, Nagaland (Dec 2025); Brahmaputra Beach Festival, Assam (Jan 2026); Goa Carnival (Feb 2026); Jaisalmer Desert Festival (Feb 2026).
Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said “Festivals and carnivals have a fascinating way of bringing a destination to life – they serve as vibrant expressions of culture, history, and community. Today’s new age Indian traveller is seeking more than just sightseeing; they crave authentic, immersive experiences that connect them with local traditions and celebrations. Our portfolio on festival and carnival tourism reflects a broader movement towards travel that is enriching and truly memorable.
We are excited by the demand that we are witnessing – and this is across segments - from Young India’s Millennials & GenZ, couples, multi-generational families to Corporate MICE.”
S D Nandakumar, President & Country Head - Holidays & Corporate Tours - SOTC Travel, said, “We are witnessing a growing demand for travel centered around the world’s most iconic celebrations – from the fun of La Tomatina Festival to the energy of Rio Carnival, or the vibrancy of Rann Utsav in Rajasthan. And what is noteworthy is that, this demand is not limited to India’s metros but also our regional Tier 2-3 travellers. By curating these festival-led journeys, we’re offering more than just holidays - we’re opening doors to stories, memories and once-in-a-lifetime moments that travellers carry with them long after they return.”
