After crossing the 3-crore mark for the primary time in 2024, the variety of Indians travelling abroad seems set for one more improve in 2025, with as many as 85 per cent of respondents in a survey saying they plan to greater than double the frequency of their holidays — each home and abroad — this yr to four-six from two-three.
In line with Thomas Cook dinner India and SOTC Journey’s India Vacation Report 2025, which was launched Wednesday, not solely are Indians planning to go on extra holidays, they’re additionally trying to spend extra, with round 84 per cent of respondents contemplating spending wherever between 20 per cent and 50 per cent extra on journey this yr 2025.
“The survey… displays a big shift pushed by rising disposable incomes and the rising aspirational worth of journey, together with experiential holidays,” the report stated.
Rising variety of globetrotters
Indians are travelling abroad like by no means earlier than, with worldwide departure numbers recovering quickly because the pandemic ebbed, and now at file ranges. Amongst different elements, driving this surge is the rising worldwide footprint of Indian airways and varied nations providing simplified and hassle-free visas to Indians. The variety of nations providing visa-free entry to Indian residents has additionally grown over the previous three years.
In 2024, Indian nationals’ departures to international nations rose 8 per cent to three.02 crore after 2023 noticed a 29 per cent year-on-year leap to 2.79 crore, crossing the pre-pandemic peak of two.69 crore that was achieved in 2019, as per Ministry of Tourism information. Within the first two months of 2025, 50.9 lakh Indians travelled overseas, up 6 per cent from the corresponding interval final yr, tourism ministry information confirmed.
In line with the report, 44 per cent respondents usually tend to go to nations providing simplified visa processes like e-visa or visa-on-arrival choices reminiscent of Thailand, Malaysia, the UAE, Sri Lanka, whereas nations that problem long-term visas—like Australia, Japan, and the US—are additionally seeing an uptick.
Extra worldwide journeys, whereas indicative of premiumisation in journey preferences, doesn’t essentially imply that Indian vacationers have turn out to be spendthrift. As many as 39 per cent of the two,500 survey respondents stated that they actively search promotions, reductions, and particular presents whereas making their journey choices.
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In actual fact, in response to Reserve Financial institution of India information, Indians’ outward remittances for journey beneath the central financial institution’s Liberalised Remittances Scheme (LRS) edged down by 2 per cent to $16.71 billion in 2024, accounting for 57 per cent of complete outward remittances beneath the scheme.
There does appear to be a discernible premiumisation of Indians’ journey plans, as has been the case within the home marketplace for items and providers within the post-pandemic years. In line with the survey, greater than 36 per cent of respondents need “premium experiences” reminiscent of luxurious cruise holidays in Scandinavia nations, the Mediterranean, and the US, personal island eating in Australia, stays in boutique resorts and chalets and heritage properties in India.
The place to subsequent?
When it comes to most well-liked worldwide locations, Europe continues to high the checklist with half of the respondents naming the continent amongst their vacation spot preferences. Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany lead the European pack, with Jap European locations like Czech Republic, Hungary, and Croatia additionally gaining recognition.
“Quick-hauls like Southeast Asia follows with favourites like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore (46%); additionally Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Ras Al-Khaimah (37%); Japan & South Korea (35%) and Australia-New Zealand (26%); Island locales – Mauritius, Maldives, Bali, Sri Lanka (22%); South Africa & Kenya (12%),” the report stated.
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Central Asian nations like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgystan had been amongst different rising locations talked about by respondents, whereas Morocco, Iceland, and Greenland “rising on the radar”.
Inbound tourism nonetheless behind pre-pandemic ranges
Whereas Indians are actually travelling abroad in droves, international vacationer arrivals are but to achieve pre-pandemic ranges. In 2024, complete international vacationer arrivals rose to 97 lakh, effectively in need of the 1.09 crore arrivals witnessed in 2019.
Overseas vacationers are a key supply of earnings for the home tourism economic system, with 2024 seeing complete international alternate earnings rising 18 per cent to $33.19 billion. In rupee phrases, this was equal to Rs 2.78 lakh crore. In line with the federal government, the tourism sector contributed 5 per cent to India’s GDP in 2022-23, with the whole variety of jobs supported instantly and not directly because of tourism rising 9 per cent to 7.6 crore.