Indian couples prefer Thailand and Andamans for honeymoon, says MakeMyTrip

• Most Indian couples book their honeymoon packages within 30 days of departure.
• Beaches are a preferred destination for the post-marriage trips of Indian newlyweds.
• Couples are ready to spend more on comfort and luxury than ever before.

In India, weddings are more than just events—they are grand festivals that fuel business opportunities across multiple industries. With the wedding season approaching, many soon-to-be-married couples have already planned their first post-wedding trip, while others are in the midst of booking their honeymoon getaways.

Newlyweds aren’t just looking for a vacation; they’re seeking unique and meaningful experiences that will leave lasting memories. Additionally, they also want to spend some time getting to know each other better. This is even better in case of an arranged marriage setup. From unwinding on exotic beaches to discovering peaceful hill stations, the honeymoon preferences of Indian couples are as diverse as the regions they call home.

To gain insights into Indian couples’ honeymoon preferences and planning styles, MakeMyTrip has analysed its booking data, releasing a report titled ‘How India Travels for Honeymoon’. The report highlights the travel trends and behaviours of couples embarking on this special journey.

Beaches are a favourite for Indian couples

Be it for domestic or international destinations, beaches have consistently been the top choice for newlyweds planning their first post-wedding trip, as per the report. This year’s data reflects the same trend.

Internationally, Thailand has emerged as the leading honeymoon destination for Indian couples in 2023-24, topping honeymoon package bookings on MakeMyTrip. With a notable 5.2% year-on-year (YoY) increase, Thailand has surpassed the Maldives, last year’s favourite, which saw a 16.2% YoY decline in bookings. Meanwhile, the other top international destinations—Indonesia, Mauritius, and Vietnam—also experienced growth in their booking shares this year.

Domestically, the Andamans have overtaken Kerala as the most popular honeymoon destination, with a 6.9% year-on-year increase in honeymoon package bookings. Kashmir also rose in popularity, gaining 3.6% in bookings and moving into third place. Bookings for Goa remained steady compared to last year, while Himachal Pradesh experienced a 4% decline. Other regions, including the Northeast, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra, also attracted Indian couples looking for memorable honeymoon experiences within the country.

Couples going far

Indian honeymooners are exploring far places increasingly drawn to new and diverse destinations. While international spots like Bhutan, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Seychelles have seen significant year-on-year growth in honeymoon package bookings, this trend extends beyond just short-haul destinations.

Because of Easy Visa, Japan has seen the highest YoY growth of 388% in honeymoon package booking. Other long-haul destinations that have seen maximum growth for honeymoon package bookings include Scandinavia, the United States, South Africa, and Australia and New Zealand.

Honeymooners from Metro cities going all out to create Insta-worthy memories

Metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore are driving the demand for premium honeymoon packages, contributing to more than two-thirds of all honeymoon package bookings. However, cities such as Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Pune are also seeing a notable shift from budget to premium travel.

Couples are ready to spend more on luxury and pampering during their honeymoon. The average spending per couple has gone up by 13% compared to last year. In fact, 68% of newlyweds booked 4-star or 5-star hotels for their stay. One in every five honeymoon bookings was for a 5-star property in 2023-24, showing a 10% increase from the previous year.

Newlyweds are not only spending more on comfort and luxury but are also increasingly choosing to visit multiple destinations during their honeymoon. Domestically, the number of couples visiting four or more cities increased from 35% in 2022-23 to 39% in 2023-24. Internationally, while more than half of honeymooners still prefer visiting just one city, the percentage of couples choosing to explore two or more cities grew from 32% to 47%.

Personalised experiences demand all-time high

Couples are seeking more personalised and romantic experiences than ever before. Honeymoon package bookings have grown by 25% compared to last year, showing that many couples want a fully planned, curated experience. Over 95% of honeymoon bookings this year included special activities. As a result, MMT saw a 56% increase in bookings for premium romantic activities like couples' photoshoots, romantic dinners, cruises (sunset, dinner, or catamaran), spa sessions, and floating breakfasts.

Couples booking packages last minute

The report also adds that Indian couples are booking their honeymoons closer to their travel dates. For domestic packages, 56% were booked within 30 days of departure, and 38% were booked the same way for international packages. This matches the overall trend of Indian travellers, who usually book closer to their travel dates. However, 31% of couples travelling internationally booked their honeymoon more than two months in advance, compared to just 18% for domestic trips.

To gain more insights, MakeMyTrip also surveyed over 200 people who booked their honeymoon packages through the platform. The survey revealed that 70% of couples went on their honeymoon within 10 days of their wedding, 10% travelled between 10 days to a month later, and 20% waited more than a month to go.