New Delhi: Overseas destinations such as Moscow, Vietnam, South Korea, Georgia, Thailand and Japan are reporting an uptick in Indian arrivals this year with some markets reporting over 40% growth, boosted by relaxed visa requirements in some instances. Azerbaijan and Turkey have fallen out of favour with Indians following their support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
Among countries outside the former Soviet Union, India became the second largest by tourist arrivals in the Russian capital in the first half of 2025 after China, according to Moscow City Tourism Committee data. Moscow got 40,800 tourists from India in the first half, up 40% the year earlier. Based on data from online booking platform Ostrovok, 94% of all summer bookings for three, four and five-star hotels in Moscow were by travellers from non-CIS countries, up from 85% last year. Indian tourists figured high in Moscow’s premium accommodation segment. Moscow became easier to visit with e-visas that are given in four days.
There is no need for invitations or hotel confirmations. By 2030, Moscow expects to host up to six million international tourists annually, driven largely by travellers from India, China, the Asia-Pacific region and West Asia.
In the first eight months of 2025, Vietnam recorded 443,000 visitors from India, marking a 42.2% increase from the year earlier. That compares with 392,000 Indian visitors in 2023 and 507,000 in 2024. Because of rising interest, MakeMyTrip has launched holiday packages to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, with exclusive direct flights operated by Air India Express starting from next month.The island currently has no direct connectivity from India.
“New destinations are emerging within already popular markets such as Thailand and Vietnam and are driving demand,” said MakeMyTrip cofounder and group CEO Rajesh Magow. “We are seeing a healthy uptick for the Philippines as well as it has done away with visas for Indians. Geopolitical developments seem to have impacted bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey.”
As per preliminary data from the Japan National Travel Organization, the island nation saw 233,400 visitor arrivals from India in the January-September period, up 36.6% from the year earlier.
Travel company Thomas Cook (India) said destinations like Japan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka have made a strong showing this year.
“Additionally, an appreciating Indian rupee versus the Sri Lankan rupee and Vietnam’s dong has served to make the destinations even more attractive and this is reflecting in our numbers,” said Rajeev Kale, president and country head for holidays, MICE and visa. “Increased demand for Japan, is resulting in extended stays and we have been able to include new locales like Sapporo in addition to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.”
In the first nine months of this year, Georgia saw 103,968 Indian visitors, up 19%.
India is one of the country’s most promising and fast-growing source markets, said Maia Omiadze, head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA).
“This strong upward trend reflects the growing momentum of our cooperation with Indian travel trade partners, enhanced flight connectivity, and the rising appeal of Georgia’s diverse offerings from history and culture to gastronomy and nature,” she said. “We see extraordinary potential ahead, and we remain fully committed to elevating our presence in India, building deeper industry relations, and inspiring even more Indian travellers to choose Georgia as their must-visit destination in 2026.”
Between January and September this year, South Korea received 153, 619 Indian visitors, up 13% over the same period last year.
“This strong performance reflects India’s growing enthusiasm for Korea’s cultural, culinary, and lifestyle experiences, as well as improved air connectivity and targeted promotional efforts,” said Myong Kil Yun, regional director for India and SAARC Countries at Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). “Beyond Seoul, we are also witnessing rising interest in destinations such as Busan, Gangneung and Gyeongju – which recently hosted the APEC Summit 2025. At Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) India, we continue to remain focused on deepening this engagement through regional outreach and experience-led marketing initiatives.”
In 2024, over 176,000 Indians visited South Korea, up 44% over 2023.
Bader Ali Habib, regional director of proximity markets at Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism said the first nine months of this year have already seen over 2.05 million tourists from South Asia, with Dubai welcoming a total of 13.95 million international overnight visitors – a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2024. “As we move through the final quarter of the year, we aim to consolidate growth by leveraging strong travel interest from key feeder markets such as India, supported by enhanced air connectivity and a vibrant calendar of leisure and business events,” he added.
Habib said Dubai’s festive season promises a ‘vibrant’ line-up of experiences, with over a month of retail offers, entertainment and celebrations. “These events, combined with our strategic focus on destination development under the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, reinforce Dubai’s reputation as an accessible, dynamic, and future-ready city of choice for Indian travellers – whether they’re visiting for leisure, business, or family reunions,” he added.
Apart from South Korea, which is seeing continued interest driven by K-Pop, K-drama and K-beauty, the Philippines is emerging as another popular choice for the diversity of experiences, value for money and no visa being required, said SD Nandakumar, president and country head for holidays and corporate tours at SOTC Travel.
AloJapan.com