Market – India

The 6 team members are based in the vibrant and commercial city of Mumbai. We cover the entire Indian market with our trade, media, marketing and business travel departments.

Media and Campaign Activation

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	Anaha Thakur, Marketing Manager – Campaign & Activation
Contact LinkedIn	+91 (0) 22 6128 2506 anaha.thakur@switzerland.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/anaha-thakur-32b0a29a/

	Auyshi Salvi, Marketing Sepcialist – Media & Communication
Contact LinkedIn	ayushi.salvi@switzerland.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayushi-salvi-179b8a157/

Trade

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	Ameya Kamath, Business Development Manager – Leisure
Contact LinkedIn	+91 (0) 22 6128 2503 ameya.kamath@switzerland.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameya-kamath/

SCIB

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	Aishvarya Guhagarkar, Head of SCIB India
Contact LinkedIn	+91 (0) 22 6128 2504 aishvarya.guhagarkar@switzerland.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishvarya-guhagarkar-1865062b/

Travel Switzerland

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	Lyandra DSouza, TS Sales & Marketing Manager
Contact LinkedIn	+91 (0) 22 6128 2505 lyandra.dsouza@switzerland.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyandra-dsouza-4a39728/

• ST market research page – here
• ST Research Report 2024 – Download here
• ST TMS 2023 – Download here

2025 started very positively, with a strong increase of +19% in hotel overnights from January to March, clearly indicating a growing interest in winter experiences, particularly among individual travelers and incentive trips. From April onwards, outbound travel from India slowed down due to several external factors. A terror attack in Kashmir and tensions between India and Pakistan, resulting the temporary closure of around 30 airports in northern India during the peak travel season for the Indian market in May. In June, an Air India flight accident with more than 200 deaths further impacted travel sentiment. Additionally, the currency exchange rate increased by approximately +20% year-on-year, making holidays in Switzerland noticeably more expensive for Indians. 

Despite these challenges, Switzerland still recorded overall growth of around 1.8% in hotel overnights in 2025 compared to 2024. Individual travelers proved to be more resilient to these circumstances, while the group segment remained stagnant. At the same time, there is a clear trend of repeat visitors seeking new destinations and attractions beyond the well-known Destinations. Tier II and Tier III cities are becoming increasingly important, driven by strong economic development and significant tourism potential, as well as their improved connectivity. 

To address these developments, Switzerland Tourism India launched «Ticket to Switzerland» a YouTube-first series featuring influencers, actors, and well-known Indian personalities. The 360°campaign introduced a new storytelling format, highlighting authentic travel experiences, the ease of public transport, and sustainable travel, while promoting travel during less traditional seasons. In parallel, Switzerland Tourism continued to support tour operators across India through trainings, events, and webinars, ensuring Switzerland’s strong presence among key distribution partners.

India is one of the fastest-growing major economies globally and surpassed Japan in 2025 to become the fourth-largest economy in the world, with projections indicating it could reach third place by the end of the decade. In FY25, India’s GDP growth is estimated at around 6.5%, representing a slight slow down compared to the previous year, but still well above most global economies. 

Economic growth continues to be driven primarily by strong domestic consumption, government capital expenditure, and a resilient services sector, while investment and exports show more mixed performance amid global uncertainties.

The positive outlook is further supported by significant government investment in infrastructure, including roads, airports, railways, and urban development. These projects are improving connectivity, enhancing logistics efficiency, and stimulating economic activity across regions.

India’s middle class is expanding steadily, with rising disposable incomes across households. The growth is very strong in Tier II and Tier III cities, where companies are increasingly relocating operations from major metros due to lower costs and improving infrastructure. These cities are becoming important engines of economic growth and future demand. Mumbai has recently emerged as Asia’s billionaire capital, with more billionaire residents than Beijing. A shift that underscores the rapid growth of affluent Indians. 

Despite these strengths, India continues to face structural challenges, including unemployment, income inequality, and the need for more inclusive and sustainable growth. 

In 2024, India issued the highest number of passports in its history. However, only around 9% of the entire population in India has a passport. India’s outbound tourism has been experiencing remarkable growth. In 2024, over 15 million Indians traveled overseas, marking a 12% increase compared to pre-pandemic figures. This surge is driven by rising affluence, a growing middle class, and a strong desire for unique international experiences. Additionally, there has been a noticeable shift towards personalized and high-value travel experiences, with many Indians opting for adventure tourism, cultural trips, and event-based travel.

For Switzerland, Indian citizens need a Schengen visa. Our visa section in Delhi is the largest in the world for Switzerland. In 2025, the visa process worked very smoothly, thanks to the great job of the Embassy/visa section.

India’s aviation sector is rapidly expanding, making it the third-largest domestic aviation market globally. The main airlines are Air India and Indigo, connecting also the smaller cities with the big hubs. The sector aims to increase its fleet size to 2’000 aircraft by 2030, supported by significant investments in airport infrastructure. Since 2014, India has more than doubled its number of operational airports – from around 70 to over 160 – driven by strong government investment.

We see a clear shift from group travel to more individual travel from India to Switzerland. The length of stay for individual travelers is increasing, and at the same time, more group tour operators are offering mono-Switzerland itineraries. While most Indian guests continue to travel between April and June, there is a noticeable extension of the season into autumn and winter. With an average daily expenditure of around CHF 280 per guest, the Indian market ranks among Switzerland’s top five source markets in terms of economic value.

Another increasingly important segment is the younger generation. With over 65% of India’s population under the age of 35, this group is more accustomed to international travel, more independent, and do have a high priority on travel experiences. Apartments are becoming more relevant for the Indian market, around 35% are staying in apartments. 

As the younger audience grows, travel preferences are evolving towards (soft) adventure, unique (winter) experiences and destinations beyond the traditional Swiss clichés. This segment is also more flexible in terms of food, being comfortable with an international diet, while group travelers remain more attached to familiar habits, including Indian cuisine, and favor classic itineraries.

Switzerland’s reputation has continued to strengthen, particularly its image as a clean, safe, and people-friendly destination. Indians are travelling to Switzerland because of their huge connection to Bollywood movies, shot in Switzerland, the cristal clear lakes and the snow covered mountains. This has had a positive impact on promotion efforts. The MICE segment, especially incentives, exceeded expectations in 2025, with strong demand and confirmed groups. Despite Switzerland’s premium positioning, its accessibility and reputation remain highly attractive, supported by growth in sectors such as insurance, pharmaceuticals, and real estate.

The Indian market focuses primarily on the personas Max, Lou, Quinn, Kris. Find more information about the personas here.