Booking.com’s 2026 Travel and Sustainability Report Reveals How Sustainability Is Translated Across Generations in India

Booking.com, one of the world’s leading online travel platforms, today released its 11th annual Travel and Sustainability Report 2026 highlighting consumer attitudes and understanding of the social and environmental impact of travel.

Generational Intent
- Millennials (88%), Gen Z (82%), and Gen X (77%) want to travel more sustainably in the next 12 months.
- Across all ages, 96% of Indian travellers say sustainable travel is important.

Practical Actions
- Reducing waste: Gen X (55%), Millennials (53%), Gen Z (44%).
- Supporting local businesses: ~49% across generations.
- Choosing sustainable stays: Millennials (48%), Gen X (46%), Gen Z (42%).
- Cutting energy use: Gen X (57%), Millennials (49%), Gen Z (46%).

Immersive & Eco Choices
- Local culture tours: Millennials (40%), Gen Z (39%), Gen X (35%).
- Ecosystem conservation activities: Millennials (37%), Gen X (33%), Gen Z (28%).
- Eating local/seasonal food: Gen X (60%), Millennials (59%), Gen Z (55%).
- Reusable water bottles: Widely adopted (53–56%).
- Carbon offset/SAF contributions: Gen X (36%), Millennials (28%), Gen Z (25%).

Extreme Weather Impact
- 71% consider extreme weather risk when choosing destination/timing.
- 63% cancelled or changed trips in past year due to weather events.
- 59% found destinations too hot to visit; 62% removed destinations from wish lists.

Changing Priorities
- 47% plan to avoid overcrowded destinations.
- 40% intend to travel outside peak season.
- 33% seek cooler destinations.
- Motivations: avoid overtourism (45%) and reduce pressure on destinations (55%).

Booking.com’s View
Santosh Kumar (Regional Head, South Asia) noted that Indian travellers are moving from intent to informed action, adapting to climate realities and making deliberate choices that balance personal needs with destination wellbeing.

This report shows India’s travellers are among the most proactive globally in turning sustainability concerns into concrete behaviours.