India's tourists are traveling more than ever. Justdial's report states that travel-related searches, particularly for international adventures, are on an upward 17% increase. This is particularly attracting attention in non-metro cities, which rose 126% in 2024. As Indians aim to travel outbound, even international destinations are trying to welcome them and make it easier to obtain visas for the same thing.
According to a report by Atlys, the growing middle class and Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are looking for more authentic, budget-friendly experiences in international spaces for travel. This can be seen when Bengaluru is leading the way following an outbound trip by Delhi and Mumbai.
The travel industry is about to have a great year, but reports that Indian rupee hit a record low of $87.29 on Monday, dropping to 85th place this year may make travelers more cautious. However, Travelport was projected that this number would reach 39 million by 2028. “In 2023, India saw 2.6 billion domestic travel and generated around $100 billion in travel expenses. “We've been working hard to get the most out of our business,” said Mark Meehan, GVP & Global Managening Director at Travelport. International travel in India has skyrocketed to 39 million passengers, representing an impressive 8% combined annual growth rate since 2023. ”
These numbers are incredible, but are now further boosted by several countries that offer Indian visas on arrival, but also facilitate the visa process. Let's take a look at the latest destinations that have joined this growing bracket.
Holiday in Indonesia with e-visa upon arrival
The introduction of a new E-Visa (e-voa) program on arrival will allow you to visit Indonesia with Indians and 96 other countries. Now you can apply for a visa online before you set out on your trip, and you can explore places like Bali, Ubud, Jakarta and more than ever before. The initiative supports Indonesia's goal of strengthening tourism infrastructure while welcoming 14 million tourists by 2025. Standard E-VOA fees are available £The 2,646 and VFS Global Services fees are Rs 1,217, including taxes.
Will studying and moving to France make it easier?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit France on a two-day trip this month and meet President Emmanuel Macron. In an interview with Deccan Herald, Isabel Hu, president of Emrion Business School, said that France could announce favorable visas and work-related permits to attract Indian students. This is in line with Macron's goal of increasing the number of French Indian students to 30,000 by 2030. There is currently an estimated 10,000 students in the country. This faces the challenges that Indians face tensions in diplomatic relations between US President Donald Trump and Canada.
Traveling to Israel has become easier
This year, Indian travelers can apply for e-Visa under a new programme launched by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. The initiative is in line with Israel's broader strategy to strengthen tourism relations with India, a rapidly growing market for international visitors. The E-Visa service is specifically designed for individual tourists. The group visa application continues through existing channels. The visa is valid for up to 90 days and costs 100 NIS (Rs 2,422.05). According to a recent report from JustDial, Israel has emerged as one of the biggest destinations for Indian tourists, with searches rising by 266%. The country was particularly popular in cities such as Lucknow, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
I'm going on a safari in South Africa
With South Africa's long visa process keeping tourists in place, the government has finally decided to change things and boost tourism. Starting on January 13th, South Africa launched a reliable tour operator scheme (TTO) for Indian and Chinese travelers. The visa process is intended to be smoother and faster. South Africa's Home Ministry believes that even if India's tourists increase by 10%, it will increase the economy by 0.6% and create more jobs for local people. Currently, Indian tourists account for just 3.9% of all international arrivals in South Africa. “We have seen a significant increase in outbound tourists to nearby countries where visa regulations are easier. As we are transforming the visa system, we are now in the process of changing the visa system,” said South Africa's Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille. A similar response is expected. “Debate on direct flights from major Indian cities is also underway.
Check out Russia from the bucket list
If you have Russia on your travel bucket list, things may be easier as the country is discussing with India about the “group-free visa system.” This allows a designated number of tourists traveling together within the group to enter the country without a visa. “If you have a group of tourists traveling with you to Russia, you will need to refer to a certain number in the document for your visit. For example, in Chinese documents, the group should be between 10 and 20 people. Russian is Russian. Moscow City Tourism Commission Chairman Evgeny Kozlov told PTI. One reason Russia is interested in making more Indians travel to the country is that they excel It is a spender, pumping around 2,000 US dollars per person. In the first nine months of 2024 (January to September), Moscow has 19.7 million people, including 61,000 Indians. We received guests. By 2030, the number of tourists is expected to reach 6 million.
Heading to the Philippines for beach time
Indians can apply to the country for E-Visa after the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DFA) finally launches the system on October 28, 2024. This system has been in development since 2019. It is accessible at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi. and consulates in Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. With an emphasis on increasing the number of tourists in India, they expect to reach 50 million per year by 2030. “We are very eager to open the door to the Indian market,” they have been discussing with the Indian government to increase connectivity through the e-Visa initiative and additional flights to the Philippines. The cost of a single entry visa £3,520, while multiple input visa fees are £7,040.
