Eased Visa Rules Ignite Tourism Surge for Indian Travellers
India, with a population of 1.4 billion, is set to become the fourth-largest source of tourist spending by 2030.
India, with a population of 1.4 billion, is set to become the fourth-largest source of tourist spending by 2030. Traditionally, Indian passports have been ranked low in strength, but as the nation’s wealth grows, travel opportunities are expanding. In the past year, countries like Thailand, along with several others in Asia and Europe, have relaxed their entry restrictions. This shift is part of a broader effort to attract Indian tourists, and many nations are already seeing a notable uptick in visitors from India.
Global Travel Awakens for Indians: More Passports, Less Red Tape
Despite having a population of 1.4 billion, only 6.6% of Indians, or roughly 93 million people, held passports last year. Obtaining visas has traditionally been a challenging and expensive process, often requiring bank statements and in-person interviews at foreign embassies. According to Henley & Partners, an immigration law firm, even with recent relaxations, only 61 countries offer visa-free access to Indian passport holders, compared to nearly 200 for citizens of wealthier nations. Long waiting times for visa appointments, sometimes up to eight months, have led many to cancel their travel plans due to delays in paperwork. In 2023, Indian travellers faced some of the highest rejection rates for visa applications to European Union countries.
However, this scenario is beginning to shift. Countries from Peru to Morocco are opening or expanding travel offices in Indian cities, enlisting Bollywood stars as brand ambassadors, and providing complimentary trips to tour operators. Singapore’s tourism board, for example, has created a vibrant installation at a major Mumbai mall, featuring DJs, culinary delights, and displays promoting local attractions. Saudi Arabia, aiming to attract 7.5 million Indian tourists annually by 2030—up from 1.5 million last year—has opened visa offices, organised cultural exhibitions, and introduced an expedited four-day stopover visa for Indians on long-haul flights with layovers in the kingdom.
Open Doors for Indian Travellers in the EU, Japan, and UAE
In April, the European Union eased entry restrictions for Indian nationals, now offering multiple-entry, longer-term visas to those who have visited the region at least twice before. Concurrently, Japan introduced a simplified e-visa process for Indian travellers. This year, the United Arab Emirates, home to a significant Indian expatriate community, began issuing multiple-entry visas to Indian visitors. "When a country relaxes its visa regulations, the adjustment not only facilitates entry for foreign visitors but also sends a strong signal of hospitality," says Xiang Li, a tourism professor at the University of Central Florida.
Indian International Travel : 80 Million Annual Trips by 2040
In 2022, Indians made approximately 13 million international trips, a number projected by McKinsey & Co. to soar to over 80 million annually by 2040. Booking.com predicts that by 2030, Indian travellers will rank as the fourth-largest spenders on overseas travel, with expenditures reaching $410 billion annually—nearly three times the amount spent in 2019. "More Indians are travelling now than at any other time in history," states an annual study from Mastercard Inc.
