Current travel trends and impact of geopolitical conflicts to tourism industry: An Interview with Sagar Goradia, Co-Founder of Savaya Travels LLP.

01 June,2026 01:45 PM IST |  Mumbai  | 

Savaya Travels.


Business & Travel Feature | 2026

In a world where travel has become increasingly automated, one entrepreneur believes the most memorable journeys still begin with a human conversation.

Sagar Goradia, Co-Founder of Savaya Travels LLP & Founder of NoFikar Holidays is helping redefine modern travel by focusing on something many travelers feel is disappearing from the industry-personalized service, genuine destination expertise, and experiences that go far beyond standard sightseeing.

What started as a passion for him for exploring the world has evolved into a growing travel business that today designs curated journeys across Europe, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, China, Philippines and beyond.

"Travel should create stories, not just photographs," says Goradia. "Anyone can book a flight or hotel online. The real value lies in knowing where to stay, what hidden places to visit, how to avoid tourist traps, and how to create experiences that truly stay with you long after you return home."

Building a Brand Around Hassle-Free Travel

The journey began with NoFikar Holidays, a name inspired by a simple philosophy: travelers should enjoy their vacation without worrying about logistics, planning, transport, food preferences, or unexpected challenges.

"When someone travels, they should be focused on creating memories-not managing problems. That's exactly what NoFikar Holidays was created to solve," explains Goradia.

Through personalized planning and hands-on support, NoFikar Holidays quickly earned a reputation for helping travelers discover destinations in a more meaningful and stress-free way across South Mumbai clientele.

The Evolution into Savaya Travels LLP

As client expectations evolved and demand for curated luxury experiences grew from beyond Mumbai to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi and even from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, the business expanded into Savaya Travels LLP-a premium travel company focused on highly personalized and experience-driven journeys. We now cater to diverse crowd from Mumbai's elite, to Travel Influencers wanting to show a different world to their followers, TV and Film Stars, to even a young couple from Tier 2 city wanting to enjoy a unique honeymoon experience.

Today, Savaya Travels LLP specializes in:

Rather than offering fixed itineraries, every journey is designed around the traveler's interests, pace, budget, and travel style.

"Every traveler is different. A honeymoon couple, a family with children, a group of friends, and senior travelers all experience destinations differently. Our role is to build an itinerary that reflects who they are."

Why Personalized Travel Matters

Despite the rise of online booking platforms, Goradia believes travelers continue to seek expert guidance-particularly when planning important holidays.

"Technology is excellent for transactions. But when you're investing significant time and money into a holiday, you want someone who understands the destination, knows the hidden gems, and can support you when plans change. That's where personalized travel planning becomes invaluable."

Here Are Snippets from a recent conversation with the co-founder - Sagar Goradia

1. How is Savaya Travels different, and why should someone not simply book online or through a traditional family travel agent?

Sagar Goradia:

Online portals are fantastic for transactions. They can help you book a hotel room or a flight ticket in minutes. Traditional travel agents have also played a huge role in helping generations of travelers explore the world.

Where Savaya Travels differs is in the depth of planning and destination expertise.

We spend hours understanding the traveler before recommending anything. A hotel that works for a honeymoon couple may be completely wrong for a family with young children. A highly-rated hotel online may be in the wrong location. A popular sightseeing route may not be the most memorable one.

Our clients are not paying us to book a hotel. They are paying us to help them avoid mistakes, discover hidden experiences, optimize their time, and have someone available when plans change unexpectedly.

Today, information is available everywhere. What travelers need is the right information.

2. What are the top trending destinations for 2026?

Sagar Goradia:

Japan, New Zealand and Italy continue to dominate demand, especially among Indian families.

We're also seeing exceptional demand for:

Interestingly, travelers are increasingly choosing slower, experience-focused holidays instead of rushing through multiple countries in one trip.

People want quality over quantity.

3. What challenges is the travel industry currently facing?

Sagar Goradia:

Recent geopolitical conflicts and regional tensions have significantly impacted air routes, operating costs, insurance premiums, and airline schedules. With many of these disruptions occurring during the peak summer travel season, the industry has faced unprecedented operational challenges.

When trips are cancelled, the work for a travel company actually doubles. We first invest considerable time in curating the perfect holiday and then spend countless hours coordinating cancellations, itinerary changes, and refund follow-ups with airlines, hotels, and local partners.

One of the biggest challenges today is the delay in refunds from suppliers due to the high volume of disruptions. However, at Savaya Travels, we remain committed to complete transparency and ensuring that every refund due is passed on 100% to our clients, regardless of how long the recovery process takes on our end.

4. What are the future plans for Savaya Travels?

Sagar Goradia:

I don't want to give a cliché answer about expansion or becoming the biggest travel company. Genuinely, I want to focus on four things

1. Continuing to create unique, comfortable, and thoughtfully curated vacations while ensuring our pricing remains similar to, and often even lower than, major online booking platforms. We want clients to enjoy the benefits of expert planning and personalized service without paying a premium for it.

2. We're actively hiring and strengthening our team to improve response times, reduce operational delays, and enhance the overall client experience to be available 24/7. However, even as we grow, we'd rather serve 50 families exceptionally well each month than chase higher volumes at the cost of quality.

3. Encouraging travelers to plan earlier. We strongly recommend reaching out at least 60 days before departure, because that's when we can truly deliver our best work. If someone approaches us too close to their travel date, we'd rather politely decline than provide anything less than the level of service and personalization our clients deserve.

4. Savaya Travels is also expanding into curated group experiences for travelers seeking something beyond conventional holidays. Upcoming journeys include campervan road trips across New Zealand, immersive onsen experiences in Japan, and bucket-list events such as Spain's La Tomatina Festival.

Closer to home, Savaya has partnered with Karibu Farms, Karjat, to create exclusive weekend experiences for South Mumbai's discerning audience. From wood-fired pizza-making workshops and farm-to-table gatherings to soulful bhajan jams and community events, these experiences offer a refreshing alternative to the usual weekend routine.

"Whether it's a road trip across New Zealand or a memorable weekend just outside Mumbai, our focus remains the same-creating experiences that people will remember long after they're over," says Goradia.

Connect With Savaya Travels LLP

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savayatravels?igsh=MW5wZDJ4cmFxZzJpcw==

Website: savayatravels.com (Under expansion)

Email: info@savayatravels.com

Contact: +91 98209 34560 / +91 9819 30 35 36

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