CONX 2025: India’s Travel Boom: A Conversation with Walter Buschta

As the travel industry attended ConX 2025, one of the most anticipated voices on the agenda was Walter Buschta, Senior Vice President at Phocuswright. Now in its fifth edition, ConX continues to shape the future of travel innovation—and this year, Buschta moderated a pivotal roundtable discussion on India's Rising Influence in Travel.

In a recent conversation, Walter shared powerful insights into the global state of travel, the pace of recovery from the pandemic, and the transformative forces reshaping the industry. His thoughts are as bold as they are grounded, reflecting his decades of experience and global perspective.

A Fast-Moving Recovery and New Asian Frontiers

Walter emphasized that the speed at which the travel industry bounced back from the pandemic has been remarkable. Particularly in emerging markets across Asia, there is a renewed energy and optimism. 

From Online to Mobile: A 10-Year Shift

Reflecting on the past decade, Walter highlighted a fundamental shift in how consumers engage with travel. In many emerging markets, the industry has transitioned rapidly from web-based platforms to mobile-first ecosystems. For millions, mobile isn’t just one option—it’s the primary way they discover, plan, and book their journeys. This shift has influenced everything from product design to major mergers and acquisitions across the sector.

Travel: A Top Spending Priority

Despite economic uncertainty, Walter noted that travel remains a top spending category. People continue to prioritize travel as an essential experience. He also pointed out the strong and ongoing growth of the luxury segment, which shows no signs of slowing. This reflects a global appetite for more curated and premium travel experiences.

India's Rise as a Travel Powerhouse

India is emerging as one of the most exciting travel markets globally. With a massive, youthful population that is digitally native and eager to explore, the opportunities are immense. Walter spoke about how this generation of travelers has grown up with mobile technology and sees global travel as both a personal aspiration and a lifestyle norm.

The Indian government’s investment in national infrastructure—airports, roads, and high-speed rail—is another key driver. These improvements are not only facilitating domestic travel but also positioning India as a major outbound tourism force.

At ConX 2025, Walter lead a roundtable with top leaders from Indian travel companies to explore these developments in depth, examining the factors driving India's rise and what it means for the broader global travel landscape.

"India is on the verge of a travel boom and is set to become a true powerhouse in the global travel industry. Our panel will dive into the forces driving this growth—from digital innovation to changing traveler expectations—and explore what it means for the future of travel distribution. I’m excited to explore this dynamic growth and the opportunities it brings with such an esteemed group of panelists at ConX 2025.”

Sustainability and Local Impact

Sustainability remains a central concern. Walter underscored the importance of ensuring tourism contributes positively to both the environment and local communities. One of the challenges ahead is to direct the economic benefits of tourism more effectively to the people and cultures that host it. Sustainable growth, he said, must balance global demand with local well-being.