The rapid digitization of India’s travel and tourism industry has significantly transformed consumer behavior, yet a gap remains between intended and actual adoption of digital platforms. This study applies the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to analyze the key factors influencing digital adoption among Indian travelers. Using a sample of 300 respondents, structural equation modeling (SEM) via AMOS software was employed to examine the relationships between Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEU), Social Norms (SN), Perceived Risk (PR), Behavioral Intention (BI), and Attitude. The study also assessed Actual Usage of the Technology by travelers to evaluate TAM variables with actual usage. The results indicate that while BI strongly predicts adoption, external barriers such as social Norms, perceived risk, security reasons, and cultural influences significantly the actual usage patterns. These findings highlight the limitations of TAM in capturing the complexities of technology adoption in India. The study suggests that enhancing trust, improving digital accessibility, and addressing user concerns can bridge the intention-actual adoption gap, ultimately driving sustainable digital transformation in India’s travel sector.