From Information Overload to Inspired Itineraries
Planning a trip in India, whether to Goa or Gulmarg, often begins with a familiar ritual: an explosion of open tabs, endless scrolling through travel blogs, and a flurry of WhatsApp messages to coordinate with family and friends. This information overload
can be overwhelming, turning the excitement of a future holiday into a chore. But this is precisely where Artificial Intelligence is beginning to make its mark. Instead of you hunting for information, AI-powered platforms can now do the heavy lifting. A recent Agoda study revealed that Indian travellers are rapidly adopting this technology, with around 68% planning to use AI for trip planning in 2026. They are using it to cut through the noise, transforming a vague idea into a structured, actionable plan in minutes.
Your New Digital Travel Agent
Think of an AI travel planner as a digital assistant that never sleeps. You provide the basic details: your destination, budget, travel dates, and interests. The AI then analyses this information to generate a personalised day-by-day itinerary. These tools can suggest flights, compare hotel prices, find attractions, and even map out driving routes with estimated costs. The appeal for many is efficiency and personalisation. Instead of sifting through generic top-ten lists, users can ask for specific recommendations, like “a 5-day family trip to Kerala with a budget of ₹50,000, focusing on nature and vegetarian-friendly food.” The AI processes these inputs to create a tailored schedule, saving hours of manual research.
Solving for the Indian Traveller
Some emerging AI platforms are being designed specifically with the Indian holidaymaker in mind. For instance, apps like Jaboi are built to understand the nuances of travelling within India, providing cost estimates in rupees and planning routes for trains and cars, not just flights. Another platform, HECT India, uses AI to address the practical concerns of middle-class families, such as visa timelines for international trips, realistic travel times between cities, and budget constraints. This focus on local context is crucial. These tools can help navigate the unique complexities of Indian travel, from finding pure vegetarian restaurants in a foreign country to planning a multi-generational trip that keeps both grandparents and children engaged.
A Co-Pilot, Not the Pilot
Despite the enthusiasm, most travellers are not yet ready to hand over complete control. The prevailing attitude is to use AI as a co-pilot for inspiration and research, rather than the final decision-maker. A recent report by McKinsey & Company found that while a majority of travellers are comfortable using AI to get ideas and compare options, 74% still prefer to make the final bookings themselves. This caution is well-founded. AI tools are not flawless; they have been known to 'hallucinate' and recommend non-existent attractions or provide outdated information, like directing a user to a restaurant that shut down two years ago. They can also struggle with real-time variables like traffic, weather, or the need for accessibility, making human oversight essential.
The Human Touch Still Matters
The consensus among travel experts is that the ideal approach combines artificial intelligence with human insight—a model described as 'AI for logic, Agents for magic'. AI is brilliant at processing data, comparing prices, and organising logistics. However, it lacks the emotional intelligence and contextual awareness that a human can provide. An AI can’t understand the sentimental value of a trip, anticipate the delight of a spontaneous detour, or share a story about a hidden gem that isn't documented online. For now, the smartest way to plan a trip is to let AI create the first draft. Use it to build the basic framework of your itinerary, then apply your own judgment, experience, and sense of adventure to fill in the rest.
