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How young Indians redrew the map of overseas travel in 2025
BENGALURU: India’s international travel story in 2025 was written largely by the young and the independent. According to Niyo’s Travel Report 2025, nearly two-thirds of all overseas trips by Indians originated from New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai, underlining the continued dominance of India’s largest urban centres in global mobility.
The data points to a decisive generational shift. Gen Z and millennials accounted for nine in ten international trips, signalling the rise of a traveller who is confident, tech-savvy and focused on experiences rather than conventions. Solo travel emerged as the defining trend, making up 63.8% of all trips, far ahead of couples at 19.93%, families at 12.26% and groups at just 4.01%.
These travellers planned carefully despite their independent streak. Visa preparation, forex optimisation and cost efficiency featured prominently, reflecting a balance between spontaneity and financial prudence. Short-haul destinations across Asia and Central Asia dominated preferences. Thailand and the UAE led the list, accounting for 23.08% and 21.57% of trips respectively, followed by Georgia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the UK and Singapore.
Emerging destinations also saw strong momentum. Flight growth was highest for Thailand, the UAE, Malaysia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, while visa demand rose sharply for Dubai, Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Together, these patterns suggest Indian travellers are looking beyond traditional Western destinations, favouring affordability, accessibility and cultural novelty.
Timing, too, has shifted. September replaced October as the peak travel month, with 41% of trips planned during the month. Visa applications mirrored this change, with 53.4% submitted in September 2025, up from 46.6% in October the previous year. The shift points to a more price-conscious and planning-oriented traveller, keen to avoid seasonal spikes.
Safety considerations gained prominence. In 2025, travellers purchased 11,979 travel insurance policies, a rise of 43% from 2024. Most policies were valued between ₹50,000 and ₹1,00,000. Insured travellers most frequently visited destinations such as Thailand, the UAE, France, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, Italy, Germany and Switzerland.
Co-founder and CEO of Niyo, Vinay Bagri, said, “The new global Indian traveller is young, ambitious, and unapologetically independent. They plan with confidence, book smart, and prioritise visas, insurance, and cost efficiency while travelling abroad. At Niyo, we are committed to being the travel stack behind every Indian passport story, helping travellers save, secure, and simplify their journeys.”
Spending behaviour abroad also reflected changing priorities. Nearly half of all card usage went towards shopping at 47.28%, followed by dining at 20.69% and transport at 19.93%. Accommodation accounted for 9.09% of spending, while experiences made up a modest 3.01%. Smarter forex management paid dividends, with Niyo users collectively saving ₹153 crore during the year. Premium members alone contributed ₹1.44 crore in savings.
Taken together, the data paints a clear picture. India’s outbound traveller in 2025 is younger, more self-directed and financially astute, shaped by digital tools and global aspirations. As international mobility grows, this cohort is redefining not just where Indians travel, but how they plan, spend and experience the world.
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KPMG names Gary Wingrove as global chairman and CEO from October
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MUMBAI: KPMG has chosen continuity with a forward tilt. The firm has announced that Gary Wingrove will take over as global chairman and CEO of KPMG International, beginning a four year term from 1 October 2026. Currently serving as global chief operating officer, Wingrove steps into the top role after being nominated by the global board and elected by the global council.
A KPMG veteran with over 25 years at the firm, Wingrove has been closely involved in shaping its recent trajectory. As global COO, he has helped drive the firm’s Collective Strategy, focusing on operational integration, global investments and the steady expansion of the KPMG Delivery Network. He has also been at the forefront of KPMG’s digital push, including the rollout of AI enabled solutions across its global operations.
Before his global role, Wingrove served as CEO of KPMG Australia for nearly a decade, where he led a period of strong growth, almost doubling revenue, profitability and headcount while steering a cultural reset.
He succeeds Bill Thomas, who has led KPMG since 2017 and will work alongside Wingrove over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition.
Thomas leaves behind a firm that looks markedly different from when he took charge. Under his leadership, KPMG’s global revenues have risen by 55 per cent, and its workforce has expanded to more than 276,000 people. He also unified the network of member firms under the Collective Strategy, aligning priorities and strengthening governance.
His tenure saw heavy investment in technology and partnerships, with alliances spanning Microsoft, Google Cloud, SAP, Oracle and ServiceNow. These collaborations, along with platforms like KPMG Clara, have helped the firm scale its AI-led offerings and sharpen its competitive edge.
Beyond growth, Thomas also pushed improvements in audit quality and sustainability. Initiatives such as a multiyear global sustainability strategy and the Our Impact Plan have aimed to embed long term thinking into the firm’s operations and client services.
For Wingrove, the brief is clear but evolving. He has signalled a focus on agility, deep expertise and technology driven solutions as clients navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. He also emphasised KPMG’s identity as a people first organisation, supported by technology and unified through its global network.
The timing of the leadership change comes as KPMG continues to grow, reporting a 5.1 per cent rise in global revenue in FY25, with gains across tax and legal, audit and advisory services. Growth was recorded across all regions, despite a challenging macro environment.
As Wingrove prepares to take charge, the firm appears set on a familiar path with a sharper digital edge. Same playbook, perhaps, but with a renewed focus on speed, scale and smarter solutions.
