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Booking.com names ‘Noctourism’ India’s travel word of 2025
BENGALURU: Forget sunrise selfies. India’s travellers are chasing the night. Booking.com has crowned Noctourism, after-dark travel built around stargazing, night safaris and illuminated cityscapes, as India’s Travel Word of the Year for 2025, signalling a decisive shift towards slower, mood-led exploration.
Drawn from an analysis of more than 10 million data points across 3,00,000-plus verified media and social sources, the research maps how Indians reimagined travel this year, not as a checklist but as an emotional pursuit. Cooler temperatures, quieter streets and immersive night-time experiences pushed Noctourism into the spotlight, with 78 per cent of Indian travellers expressing interest in the trend.
The vocabulary of travel widened. Calmcations promised rest and rejuvenation, microcations delivered high-impact short breaks, while frolleagues blurred the line between work trips and friendships. Sustainability also rose up the agenda, with eco-scapes reflecting a growing appetite for low-impact travel. 87 per cent of Indians said they were willing to travel more sustainably in 2025.
Generational preferences diverged. Gen Z leaned into spontaneity and purpose with impulse escapes and eco-conscious choices, while millennials favoured cultural depth and social connection through microcations and frolleagues.
“Travel in 2025 marks a pivot from routine getaways to deeply intentional journeys,” said Santosh Kumar, regional manager, South Asia, Booking.com.
“Noctourism captures this shift, where travel becomes a form of self-discovery, not just escape.”
As daylight fades, India’s travel ambitions are only just waking up.
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Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
