A passport, a long weekend and a visa-free stamp - that's all Indians need to head overseas in 2025.
Easier entry rules and a stronger passport are fuelling record outbound bookings, with online travel firms reporting double-digit growth to short-haul Asian hubs.
Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said the shift was visible in July traffic. "Of the top 15 international destinations that attracted the highest traffic on our platform, five offered visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry, another six had e-visa and only four required a physical visa," he said.
The convergence of simplified entry rules and affordable short-haul flights is turning visa facilitation into a booking driver rather than a convenience. According to the Henley Passport Index (July 2025), Indian passport holders can now travel to 59 countries without applying for a visa in advance - lifting India's rank to 77 from 85 last year.
Within this basket, growth is sharpest where visa-free policies are combined with short-haul connectivity. "Thailand grew by 32% in July 2025 compared to July 2024. Indonesia recorded a 21% increase while Sri Lanka and Nepal rose by 64% and 33% respectively. Malaysia posted a 6% gain," Magow added.
EaseMyTrip is seeing Malaysia emerge as the clear standout. "Around 1 lakh+ Indians visit the country every month, in the first half of this year. In our dashboard, we are observing consistent month-on-month growth," said Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.
Indian citizens can travel to Malaysia visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, with the exemption extended until December 31, 2026.
The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has warned that several Indians have been denied entry to Malaysia despite the 30-day visa-free scheme, often due to lack of funds, return tickets or proof of stay. It stressed the facility is only for tourism, not employment, and urged travellers to carry proper documentation and avoid fraudulent agents.
Across all visa-easy destinations, Pittie said bookings grew 10.5% month-on-month in H1 2025, with Dubai, Bali and Bangkok emerging as top picks. "The combination of simplified entry processes, stronger air connectivity, and a mix of cultural, leisure, and business attractions is shaping travel preferences," he added.
The ease of access is also changing the traveller profile. SD Nandakumar, president & country head - holidays & corporate tours, SOTC Travel, said, "We've seen the average age of our customers drop by about 10 years and it is this impatient younger cohort that is raring to travel - at the drop of a hat!"
Destinations like Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia are witnessing demand for outdoor and adventure itineraries - biking, rafting, trekking - as weekend getaways become more frequent. SOTC's survey found 43% of respondents cited new direct flights as a key factor fuelling bookings from metros and tier 1 & 2 cities.
Easier entry rules and a stronger passport are fuelling record outbound bookings, with online travel firms reporting double-digit growth to short-haul Asian hubs.
Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said the shift was visible in July traffic. "Of the top 15 international destinations that attracted the highest traffic on our platform, five offered visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry, another six had e-visa and only four required a physical visa," he said.
The convergence of simplified entry rules and affordable short-haul flights is turning visa facilitation into a booking driver rather than a convenience. According to the Henley Passport Index (July 2025), Indian passport holders can now travel to 59 countries without applying for a visa in advance - lifting India's rank to 77 from 85 last year.
Within this basket, growth is sharpest where visa-free policies are combined with short-haul connectivity. "Thailand grew by 32% in July 2025 compared to July 2024. Indonesia recorded a 21% increase while Sri Lanka and Nepal rose by 64% and 33% respectively. Malaysia posted a 6% gain," Magow added.
EaseMyTrip is seeing Malaysia emerge as the clear standout. "Around 1 lakh+ Indians visit the country every month, in the first half of this year. In our dashboard, we are observing consistent month-on-month growth," said Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.
Indian citizens can travel to Malaysia visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, with the exemption extended until December 31, 2026.
The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has warned that several Indians have been denied entry to Malaysia despite the 30-day visa-free scheme, often due to lack of funds, return tickets or proof of stay. It stressed the facility is only for tourism, not employment, and urged travellers to carry proper documentation and avoid fraudulent agents.
Across all visa-easy destinations, Pittie said bookings grew 10.5% month-on-month in H1 2025, with Dubai, Bali and Bangkok emerging as top picks. "The combination of simplified entry processes, stronger air connectivity, and a mix of cultural, leisure, and business attractions is shaping travel preferences," he added.
The ease of access is also changing the traveller profile. SD Nandakumar, president & country head - holidays & corporate tours, SOTC Travel, said, "We've seen the average age of our customers drop by about 10 years and it is this impatient younger cohort that is raring to travel - at the drop of a hat!"
Destinations like Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia are witnessing demand for outdoor and adventure itineraries - biking, rafting, trekking - as weekend getaways become more frequent. SOTC's survey found 43% of respondents cited new direct flights as a key factor fuelling bookings from metros and tier 1 & 2 cities.
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