For Indian travellers planning an international holiday, the choice of destination can begin with a simple question: how easy is it to get there? Visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visa processes can make planning less complicated, particularly for those working around limited leave, school holidays or long weekends. But a simpler entry process does not necessarily make a country the preferred choice.
As per the recent reports from the Ministry of Tourism, India recorded 19.84 million Year-to-Date departures in 2026 for the Jan- Aug period, which is down 7.6 per cent (21.48 million) compared to the same period in 2025. Travel search and booking platforms are reporting strong interest in destinations across Asia, including Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand, while Japan continues to attract travellers despite additional visa formalities. As per MOT, Thailand remains one of the top five global choices for Indians, with travel searches increasing by 55 per cent year-on-year in late 2026. Next up is Malaysia, where local arrivals grew 14.6 per cent to 1.56 million in 2025, with Tourism Malaysia setting an aggressive target of 2.1 million Indian arrivals for 2026. Japan is emerging as the fastest-growing premium destination for Indians, showing a 125 per cent search spike heading into the late 2026 festive season.
