Gen Z Prioritizes Pilgrimage Travel, Contributing to Over 53% of Bookings in FY26: Study

Gen Z and young travelers are now at the forefront of India’s spiritual travel segment, accounting for over 53% of bookings to religious sites in FY26, as reported by the online bus ticketing platform redBus.

The findings indicate an increase in youth engagement in pilgrimage travel compared to FY25. Younger Indians are increasingly flocking to spiritual locations such as Rishikesh, Varanasi, Thanjavur, Tirupati, Nanded, and Ujjain.

“India’s spiritual travel segment continues to attract strong participation from all generations, with younger travelers becoming more prominent across essential routes and pilgrimage sites,” the report highlighted.
The data revealed that Gen Z has emerged as the largest demographic in this space. Men represent approximately 69% of these travelers, while women comprise nearly 31%.

Popular routes like Bengaluru–Tirupati, Hyderabad–Tirupati, Rishikesh–Delhi, Pune–Nanded, Chennai–Thanjavur, and Indore–Ujjain are experiencing robust demand from young travelers. The Bengaluru–Tirupati route has notably seen lakhs of Gen Z passengers, according to the report.

Spiritual travel is becoming more spontaneous and mobile for Gen Z. The report indicates a growing trend of young travelers booking spiritual journeys closer to departure times. Reservations made within four hours of travel have increased from 16% in 2022 to about 23% in 2026.

Young travelers are now discovering spiritual sites not just through family or community recommendations, but also via digital platforms like travel vlogs, reels, and social media. Industry reports from 2024 project that spiritual tourism contributes nearly 60% of domestic tourism in India.

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The rise of Gen Z travelers engaging in spiritual journeys does not alter the true significance of these experiences. “The increase in Gen Z travelers embarking on spiritual trips does not change the genuine essence of these journeys. The core purpose remains intact,” the report highlights.

“For young Indians, these journeys are still deeply rooted in tradition, family, culture, and a meaningful personal connection to spiritual places,” the report further states.

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