The New Digital Travel Agent
The familiar routine of juggling multiple browser tabs, travel blogs, and contradictory advice is slowly being challenged by a more conversational approach. Instead of searching, travellers are asking. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini
are being used to handle the initial, often overwhelming, stages of trip planning. A recent survey from travel platform Agoda revealed a significant shift: while about one in three Indian travellers already use AI for planning, a striking 68% say they are likely to use it for their next trip. This indicates a rapid adoption of technology that is quickly becoming a baseline for how a well-planned trip comes together. This shift is especially natural for younger generations, like Gen Z, who have grown up planning their lives through a screen and are now extending that behaviour to their travel habits.
Beyond Bookings to Bespoke Itineraries
The real appeal of AI for Indian travellers goes far beyond just finding flights and hotels. Many are using it to create highly personalised, day-by-day itineraries tailored to their specific needs. Imagine asking an AI to plan a five-day family trip to Kerala with short travel times for elderly parents, or to suggest a list of vegetarian-friendly cafes in Paris. According to survey data, the top demands from AI tools are recommendations for local attractions (38%) and personalised itinerary creation (37%). This move is away from generic, checklist-driven tourism and towards what some are calling the “Era of You,” where trips are shaped by individual tastes and convenience. Travellers are finding that AI can help sift through the noise to suggest off-beat destinations, manage budgets, and even create packing lists based on the weather.
The Allure of Efficiency and Discovery
The primary benefit is a significant saving in time and mental energy. Instead of spending hours researching, travellers can get a structured draft of their trip in minutes. For many, this isn't about replacing the joy of planning but about eliminating the friction. There's also a high degree of trust in the technology. One study found that 88% of Indian respondents either trust or feel neutral about AI-generated travel recommendations. This confidence stems from AI's ability to analyze vast amounts of data to uncover hidden gems or create logical travel routes that a human might overlook. For many, AI acts as a smart assistant that can help them make better, faster decisions, whether it's by suggesting a less crowded alternative to a popular spot or finding the most efficient way to combine flights, trains, and local transport.
A Co-Pilot, Not the Pilot
However, the technology is far from perfect. AI tools are known to "hallucinate"—inventing details like non-existent restaurants or incorrect opening times for attractions. This means every suggestion must be double-checked. Over-reliance on AI can also lead to a less spontaneous trip, one that sticks too closely to an optimised plan and misses out on accidental discoveries. Furthermore, AI recommendations often lean towards popular, well-documented spots, potentially overlooking truly local or niche experiences. For these reasons, most travellers still see AI as a powerful assistant rather than a complete replacement for human judgment. Many prefer to remain in control, using AI for the heavy lifting of research and initial planning but making the final decisions themselves, especially for complex or group itineraries.
