India
-Madhuri Adnal
Indian
tourists
are
widening
their
travel
map,
looking
beyond
familiar
holiday
spots
while
still
favouring
established
hubs.
Ministry
of
Tourism
data
for
2024
shows
the
UAE,
Saudi
Arabia
and
the
United
States
leading
outbound
preferences,
even
as
countries
like
South
Korea
and
Georgia
gain
attention
in
2025.
Neighbouring
and
regional
destinations
also
keep
drawing
heavy
traffic
from
Indian
tourists
through
short
flights
and
flexible
visas.
Thailand,
Singapore,
Malaysia,
Oman
and
Qatar
stay
popular
for
leisure,
spiritual
breaks,
stopovers
and
business
trips,
helped
by
strong
air
links
and
simplified
entry
rules
for
many
travellers.
In
2024,
the
UAE
led
outbound
travel
for
Indian
tourists
with
approximately
7.78
million
visits,
followed
by
Saudi
Arabia
at
3.42
million,
while
the
United
States
saw
2.14
million
visitors,
with
countries
like
South
Korea
and
Georgia
gaining
interest
for
2025.
Top
choices
for
Indian
tourists
by
outbound
numbers
The
UAE
holds
the
first
position
for
Indian
tourists,
with
around
7.78
million
visits
in
2024.
Trips
combine
holidays,
visits
to
Indian
diaspora
communities
and
business
travel,
underlining
deep
economic
and
social
connections
that
keep
the
Gulf
nation
at
the
top
of
India’s
outbound
charts.
Saudi
Arabia
follows
as
the
second
most
visited
country
by
Indian
tourists,
with
3.42
million
journeys
recorded
in
2024.
Travel
to
the
kingdom
is
supported
by
tourism,
family
reunions,
official
work
trips
and
religious
journeys,
reflecting
both
historical
ties
and
newer
tourism
initiatives
aimed
at
international
visitors.
| Rank | Destination |
Indian visitors in 2024 |
Main travel reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UAE |
Approx. 7.78 million |
Leisure, diaspora visits, business |
| 2 |
Saudi Arabia |
3.42 million |
Tourism, family visits, business, pilgrimage |
| 3 |
United States |
2.14 million |
Leisure, education, family ties |
| 4 | Thailand |
Nearly 1.91 million |
Leisure, spiritual and Buddhist heritage |
| – | Singapore |
Not specified |
Connectivity, safety, family attractions |
| – |
United Kingdom |
Not specified |
Tourism, business, diaspora visits |
| – | Qatar |
Not specified |
Business, family visits, stopovers |
| – | Canada |
Not specified |
Leisure, family visits |
| – | Oman |
Not specified |
Cultural trips, landscapes, short-haul breaks |
| – | Malaysia |
Not specified |
Affordable holidays, family travel, diverse attractions |
Regional
patterns
for
Indian
tourists
and
emerging
interests
Among
long-haul
destinations,
the
United
States
takes
third
place
for
Indian
tourists,
attracting
2.14
million
visitors.
Journeys
are
supported
by
holidays,
higher
education
and
close
family
links.
The
United
Kingdom
and
Canada
also
stay
important
for
tourism,
business
connections
and
visits
to
large
Indian
communities.
Within
Asia,
Thailand
continues
to
appeal
to
Indian
tourists
with
beach
holidays
and
Buddhist
heritage
sites,
drawing
nearly
1.91
million
visitors.
Singapore,
Malaysia
and
Oman
benefit
from
affordable
packages,
family-focused
attractions,
scenic
landscapes
and
relaxed
entry
norms,
while
Qatar
uses
Doha’s
connectivity
to
build
stopover
and
business
travel.
Alongside
these
established
preferences,
Indian
tourists
are
starting
to
look
at
offbeat
choices
such
as
South
Korea,
Georgia
and
Japan,
especially
through
2025.
Even
with
these
newer
options
gaining
curiosity,
the
main
outbound
flows
still
centre
on
the
UAE,
Saudi
Arabia,
the
United
States
and
other
long-standing
favourites.
