“Once I heard that NMACC was going to be placing on The Phantom of the Opera, I knew I needed to watch it at any price!” Biswas stated. She isn’t alone. Be it Broadwaystyle musicals, operas, superb arts, or literature festivals, Indians are more and more planning their journey itineraries round ‘excessive’ cultural experiences.
“Lots of my pals now plan their holidays round some cultural occasion, like a present, theatre manufacturing, and many others.,” Biswas added, highlighting the shift in journey preferences. This rising demand has boded effectively for premium lodges in close by areas.
In response to Rikant Pittie, chief government of EaseMyTrip, “Luxurious lodges, catering to theatregoers searching for a refined keep, provide room charges starting from Rs 7,700 to Rs 24,400 per evening. These upscale stays promise an beautiful mix of opulence, consolation and comfort, making certain an immersive cultural expertise past the auditorium.
Equally, through the Jaipur Literature Pageant 2025, premium lodge costs mirrored the excessive demand, with room charges starting from RS 13,500 to Rs 35,786 per evening.” The rationale behind the splurge? Pittie stated, “Grand cultural occasions are redefining tourism by drawing travellers who search extra than simply sightseeing — they search experiences that encourage, educate and immerse them in artwork, heritage and cultural discourse.”
This pattern just isn’t restricted to the prosperous, probably pointing to the bigger democratisation or proletarianisation of ‘high culture’. “Curiously, with rising aspirations and disposable incomes, demand just isn’t restricted to our HNI-UHNI phase,” stated Rajeev Kale, nation head, Thomas Cook India.


Social Media Spreading Consciousness
“We’re additionally seeing an uptick from the cohort of India’s multi-generational households, younger India’s millennials and GenZ, honeymooners and teams of pals,” Kale stated. These numerous cohorts should not confined to metropolises both. “Our knowledge signifies a rising curiosity rising from markets like Pune, Nagpur, Cochin, Trivandrum and Trichy,” stated SD Nandakumar, nation head, SOTC Journey.
The altering journey preferences are additionally evident in how itineraries are structured. “We’re witnessing elevated urge for food for longer stays from 6-7 days to 10-12 days and better spends of roughly Rs 4-5 lakh per individual,” Kale stated. Many Indians are additionally stepping past borders to absorb these experiences.
Kale stated, “Our knowledge highlights a robust curiosity in extremely sought-after experiences just like the Berlioz Pageant in France, Mozart concert events on the Golden Corridor in Vienna and Broadway musical productions like The Lion King, Mamma Mia and Aladdin in London and New York.”
Social media has been key in spreading consciousness about distinctive cultural experiences for travellers searching for private progress past leisure, based on Nandakumar.
Hari Ganapathy, co-founder, Pickyourtrail, has noticed a gradual rise in curiosity for tourism pertaining to excessive tradition, with enquiries for these experiences growing by 6-10% all year long. Pointing to the rise of locations like Florence in Italy for renaissance artwork, Vienna in Austria for operas and symphonies, Kyoto in Japan for tea ceremonies and Mexico Metropolis for indigenous heritage, he stated, “Cultural journey is increasing past main metros, tapping into lesser-known areas wealthy in artwork, historical past and heritage.”
In response to Ganapathy, transferring past the normal guidelines of vacationer locations, seasoned travellers — these embarking on three to 4 or extra leisure journeys overseas — in the present day are redefining the aim of holidays. “For these well-versed globetrotters, the journey is not nearly the place they go however how they interact with the soul of a vacation spot,” he stated.
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