Thailand has become the preferred honeymoon destination for Indian couples, overtaking the Maldives, according to a MakeMyTrip report.
The report reveals that honeymooners are increasingly opting for luxury stays and multi-city experiences, with a noticeable rise in spending compared to the previous year.
According to economictimes.indiatimes.com, Thailand tops the list of favourite honeymoon destinations for Indian couples, recording the highest share of honeymoon package bookings in 2023-24 on MakeMyTrip.
Where exactly are Indian couples headed for their honeymoons, and what are the experiences they are seeking? MakeMyTrip’s latest report, ‘How India Travels for Honeymoon’, analyses booking data from October 2023 to September 2024, compared to the same period in the preceding year, offering insights into the evolving travel preferences, trends, and behaviours of couples embarking on their honeymoons.
Thailand increased its booking share by an impressive 5.2% year-on-year (YoY), surpassing Maldives, which led the rankings last year. Maldives saw a 16.2% year on year decline in honeymoon package bookings while all other top five international destinations – Indonesia, Mauritius, and Vietnam – gained share this year.
On the domestic front, the Andamans replaced Kerala as the most booked honeymoon destination, increasing its share of honeymoon package bookings by 6.9% year on year. Kashmir, which gained 3.6% in bookings, moved to third place. The number of bookings for Goa remained the same as last year while Himachal Pradesh saw a decline of 4% in honeymoon package bookings. The North-East, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra also drew attention from Indian couples seeking domestic honeymoon destinations.
Rajesh Magow, co-founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, said as the wedding season in India approaches, the spotlight turns to honeymoon travel—where couples look to craft a truly special, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“For the first time, we are sharing unique insights into the distinct booking patterns that set honeymoon travel apart from leisure trips. Our aim is to provide a deeper understanding that will allow us—and the broader travel and wedding ecosystem—to create experiences that are not only romantic and memorable but also aligned with the evolving preferences of today’s honeymooners,” he said.
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“As couples increasingly seek personalized experiences, luxury, and unexplored destinations, we remain dedicated to delivering a variety of choices and travel planning experience for honeymooners,” he added.
As per the report, easy visa destination Japan witnessed the highest year on year growth of 388% in honeymoon package bookings. 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.
Couples are willing to spend extra for luxury and indulgence during their honeymoon. As per the report, the average spending per couple has increased by 13% year on year. Notably, 68% of newlyweds chose 4-star or 5-star properties for their stay. One in every 5 honeymoon package bookings were for a 5-star property between 2023-24, reflecting a 10% year on year growth.
There is also a growing trend of couples exploring multiple destinations within the same trip. On the domestic front, the share 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 single-city itineraries, the share of couples opting for two or more cities rose from 32% to 47%.