Indian Travellers

We breakdown the number of billion dollar companies by market cap around the world, highlighting the rise of firms in emerging markets.

Indian passport holders can now explore 58 countries visa-free, enhancing travel opportunities to destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, and Kenya. This expansion simplifies travel for tourism, cultural exchange, and professional pursuits. While visa-free, some countries may require electronic authorizations or offer visas on arrival, so travelers should verify entry guidelines before planning their trips.

A recent report by YCP Auctus reveals India’s aviation and travel retail sectors are at a critical inflection point, with transformative growth being driven by three key factors

Gen Z and millennial travellers have been at the forefront of this growth, with a 23.5% rise in visa requests from this demographic compared to last year

Costa Coffee is aggressively expanding in India, targeting 40-50 new outlets annually, despite global economic uncertainties. The company sees India as a high-potential market, driven by a growing preference for premium coffee among millennials and Gen Z.

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀—𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲

As I reflect on transitions, both personal and professional, I’m reminded of how dynamic the world of retail has become—especially in luxury. The Indian consumer today isn’t just buying a product, they’re buying into an experience, a story, a lifestyle. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲—𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲.

In my journey as a retail expert in India, I’ve closely observed how luxury brands have evolved their playbooks to resonate with an increasingly digital, discerning audience:

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲. Visual storytelling is key. From fashion week moments to behind-the-scenes exclusives, brands are now curating content that mirrors the taste and aesthetics of the Indian luxury consumer. It’s aspirational, immersive, and personal.

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀—they’re trusted voices. Their curated narratives bridge the gap between brand opulence and consumer relatability. It’s a shift from advertising to authentic connection.

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 has gone digital. Exclusive launches, invite-only previews, and personalized messages via WhatsApp or Instagram DMs—these aren’t just tactics, they’re strategic moves that nurture loyalty in a highly competitive space.

Community is currency. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲. The real impact lies in dialogue—every comment, every DM, every tagged post is an opportunity to build deeper relationships.

And most importantly, 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is power. Campaigns rooted in Indian culture, festivals, or regional aesthetics aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re essential for relevance and resonance.

Luxury in India is no longer about exclusivity alone—it’s about 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴. And social media, when used right, becomes the bridge between tradition and modernity, aspiration and access.

Excited to see where this evolving landscape takes us—and to keep learning, adapting, and growing with it.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Would love to hear how others are seeing this evolution play out across India and beyond.

#LuxuryRetail #SocialMediaStrategy #IndianConsumers #RetailLeadership #LuxuryMarketing #BrandEngagement #DigitalTransformation #RetailExpertIndia

Having worked closely with luxury and retail brands navigating the Indian market, I’ve seen firsthand how nuanced and complex this landscape truly is. India presents enormous potential for global luxury players—but tapping into it requires more than just brand equity. High import duties, often between 20–30%, inflate prices to the point where affluent consumers prefer shopping abroad or in duty-free zones. Then there’s the regulatory environment—foreign direct investment norms and mandatory local sourcing create operational challenges that can dilute a brand’s global identity if not managed carefully.

Another critical issue is the shadow of counterfeits and grey market imports, which erode both brand value and consumer trust. Infrastructure is another bottleneck; while Delhi and Mumbai offer pockets of premium retail environments, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are still catching up. Add to this the challenge of catering to India’s vast cultural diversity—where a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work—and it’s clear that global luxury brands must localize deeply to resonate with Indian consumers.

From navigating income disparities and volatile demand to overcoming logistical challenges in urban centers, the Indian luxury retail ecosystem demands both strategic vision and cultural sensitivity. As a retail luxury expert, I help brands decode this complexity, craft market-entry strategies, and build a presence that balances global appeal with local relevance. India’s luxury market doesn’t reward speed—it rewards insight, patience, and precision.

Australian authorities in talks with Air India and IndiGo to increase direct flights from India to Sydney.

"Indians are more informed and discerning than ever before and seek holistic experiences during their travel," Sanjay Khanna, CEO and Country Manager at American Express Banking Corp India

Indians' willingness to spend on unique purchases and preference for local shops is likely to make them more attractive to destinations.

A recent viral video showed passengers on a Thailand-bound flight standing in the aisles, eating and aloof from the instructions from the cabin crew. This incid

Indians expressed growing enthusiasm for U.S. travel, according to an exclusive new survey from Skift Research.

Electronics Tariff: Despite the US exempting some electronics from China tariffs, India retains a competitive edge, especially in smartphone manufacturing. Experts predict India's iPhone production share will double this year as Apple diversifies its supply chain.

For Indians, it is no longer about visiting a popular destination. It is now about the experience of traveling, within India and beyond.

Changing demands of Millennials and Gen Z, who are seeking experience and lifestyle products, are creating a new market in India

The booming sun care category in India is driven by factors including increased awareness of sun protection, shifting consumer demands, and growth of e-commerce, which brands can capitalise on to differentiate themselves.

India recorded a staggering 30,017% surge in Spanish wine imports in 2023 — yet the spike caught nearly everyone in the industry by surprise.

Lotte’s One India plan, HUL financial results, vegan logo rules and more feature in this edition of India Focus.

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹

India is no longer just an emerging player in the luxury space—it’s becoming a global force.

Driven by rapid economic growth, a rising affluent class, and evolving consumer preferences, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮. Global giants like Balenciaga and Valentino are setting up shop, in partnership with local powerhouses like Reliance. And with projections putting the market at $200+ billion by 2030, this momentum is only accelerating.

What’s Fueling the Surge?
📊 Economic growth and post-reform wealth creation: 𝟳𝟱𝟵,𝟬𝟬𝟬+ 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 and Mumbai now crowned Asia’s billionaire capital
🚙🏢Soaring demand in 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲
🌃𝗧𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝟮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 emerging as key growth centers

Indian Consumers, Global Taste with Local Flair:
💄💎~60% of luxury spend goes to 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗿𝘆
🧔👩‍🔧Men lead in fashion spend, while women dominate accessories
📱𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 and celebrity collabs drive brand aspiration among Gen Z and millennials

Challenges? Yes. But Brands Are Adapting:
🛃Import duties and regulatory complexity persist

🇮🇳But “Make in India” is turning the country into a luxury manufacturing hub
👨‍🔬Success lies in localization—blending tradition with innovation

The Road Ahead
India’s luxury market is set to grow at 8% annually, with e-commerce platforms like Tata CLiQ Luxury making premium brands more accessible than ever. The future belongs to brands that understand India’s cultural depth and connect beyond metros.

Bottom line:
India’s luxury sector is not just rising—it’s redefining global luxury with its unique blend of aspiration, heritage, and modernity.

#LuxuryMarket #IndiaRising #ConsumerTrends #LuxuryRetail #EmergingMarkets #BrandStrategy #MakeInIndia

Indian travelers prioritise unique experiences, local goods, and maximizing value in 2025 travel plans.

. A massive 84% said they prefer supporting small, local businesses while on vacation, signalling a strong move toward conscious tourism that goes beyond surface-level visits.

Germany is becoming a popular destination for Indian tourists. There is an increase in flights and visa applications. The German National Tourist Board is offering special packages. Indian tourists are staying longer and spending more. Germany has many cultural sites and strong business ties with India. The country is working to simplify the visa process.

As summer draws near, Indian travellers are dusting off their passports and packing their bags for a season of discovery, connection and conscious escapes. Acco

US News: Indian tourists are visiting the US in record numbers in 2024, even as international visitors decline amid MAGA-fueled rhetoric. Discover why India is now a top source of US tourism and how global perceptions of America are shifting.

Amidst a global decline in tourism to the US, India has stood out with a remarkable 48% increase in visitors, reaching nearly 1.9 million between January and October 2024. This surge has made India a leading source of outbound tourists in Asia, contributing significantly to US tourism revenue.