Large number of Indians travel to visa free destinations this winter; Read to know more

Indians have tendency to finalize travel arrangements at the last minute, could potentially boost the number of visitors to visa-free destinations like Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka by an additional 20-30%.

Experts have highlighted that the winter travel season offers a substantial chance for travel companies such as Thomas Cook and EaseMyTrip, among others. However, the Indian market has faced challenges due to low entry barriers and visa complexities, which have been a major concern, particularly in the post-COVID era.

As per the information provided, Thomas Cook India and its subsidiary SOTC have reported a significant increase of at least 20% in bookings for October-December 2023 compared to the same period last year. Their customers are showing a preference for destinations that either do not require a visa, offer easy visa terms, or grant visas on arrival. Thailand is already experiencing a 30% growth in bookings for the upcoming holiday season between November 2022 and January 2023, after waiving visa requirements for Indians.

Sri Lanka has also introduced visa-free entry for visitors from India and six other countries until 31 March. Malaysia has recently announced that it will offer visa-free entry to citizens of India and China for stays of up to 30 days starting from 1 December, following similar initiatives by Thailand and Sri Lanka.

According to a reports, the majority of Indians, around 70%, prefer to travel to nearby destinations. Prior to the pandemic, India’s outbound tourism was one of the fastest-growing in Asia. The report also stated that India has already recovered 61% of its pre-pandemic market, with 13 million outbound tourists in 2022, and it could potentially grow to 80 million by 2040.

As per the information received, Thailand is at the forefront, attracting a significant number of Indian tourists. Other countries such as the Maldives, Myanmar, and Indonesia are also benefiting from the increase in Indian tourism due to on-arrival visas. The surge in outbound travel to these destinations ranges from 20-30%. However, it is too early to predict a similar surge in Malaysia.