Indian International Travel Surges In 2024 With Record Numbers To Uae, Us, Saudi Arabia, And A Decline In Maldives Visits: Numbers You Need To Be Aware Of

Published on October 1, 2025

India’s outbound recreation has surged to caller heights, pinch 3.89 crore Indians heading overseas successful 2024, marking a important 10.79% maturation from nan erstwhile year. This beardown betterment follows nan pandemic’s dense toll successful 2020, and nan upward trajectory continued into 2024. Key destinations specified arsenic nan United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and nan United States stay nan apical choices for Indian travelers, while nan Maldives knowledgeable a important decline. This article explores nan singular trends successful Indian outbound recreation and highlights notable changes successful tourer destinations.

Record-Breaking Outbound Travel successful 2024

India’s outbound recreation assemblage has surpassed expectations, pinch 3.89 crore citizens walking overseas successful 2024. This marks a crisp betterment from nan lows of 2020 erstwhile nan COVID-19 pandemic caused a 73% driblet successful world departures. With a 10.79% emergence complete nan erstwhile year, 2024’s figures show nan resilience and pent-up request among Indian travelers.

The betterment began successful 2022 pinch a 152.62% summation compared to 2020. As restrictions eased, world recreation picked up again, seeing 2.16 crore departures successful 2022, which grew to 2.78 crore successful 2023, and now 3.89 crore successful 2024. This ongoing emergence reflects a broader inclination of recreation betterment that is expected to proceed successful nan coming years.

Popular Destinations for Indian Travelers

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to predominate arsenic nan astir celebrated world destination for Indians. Its proximity, robust connectivity, and divers offerings support it astatine nan top. Saudi Arabia, nan United States, Thailand, and Singapore travel intimately down successful nan database of preferred recreation spots. Together, these apical 10 destinations accounted for much than 71% of each Indian world departures successful 2024.

1. UAE
2. Saudi Arabia
3. United States
4. Thailand
5. Singapore
6. United Kingdom
7. Qatar
8. Canada
9. Kuwait
10. Oman

Decline successful Travel to nan Maldives

In stark opposition to nan maturation successful recreation to different destinations, nan Maldives saw a crisp diminution successful Indian visitors. Departures dropped by 28% successful 2024 compared to nan erstwhile year, pinch only 2.03 lakh Indians visiting nan land federation successful 2024. This marks a important autumn from nan 2.74 lakh departures recorded successful 2023. The diminution tin beryllium attributed to some outer and societal factors, including contention surrounding comments by Maldivian ministers astir Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sojourn to Lakshadweep, which led to calls for a boycott of nan Maldives.

Despite a important dip successful 2024, nan Maldives had seen a dependable emergence successful Indian visitors anterior to that, pinch 3.17 lakh visiting successful 2021 and 3.04 lakh successful 2022.

Pakistan: An Unexpected Increase

One astonishing displacement successful nan recreation inclination is nan emergence successful nan number of Indians walking to Pakistan. Departures to Pakistan successful 2024 saw a important increase, reaching 30,620, up from 17,405 successful 2023. In comparison, only 4,723 Indians traveled to Pakistan successful 2019. The surge could beryllium related to respective factors, including familial ties and taste connections betwixt nan 2 countries.

Primary Reasons for Traveling

The intent of world recreation has diversified, pinch leisure and recreational trips starring nan pack, accounting for 42.52% of each world departures. Visits to relatives and nan Indian diaspora made up 34.69%, while business-related recreation comprised 14.92%. Pilgrimages and education-related recreation besides accounted for a smaller share. This information reflects a displacement towards a much divers recreation civilization among Indian nationals.

Air Travel Dominates

As expected, aerial recreation remains nan ascendant mode of world proscription for Indian travelers. In 2024, astir 98% of each Indian nationals who traveled overseas flew by air, pinch only 1.46% walking by onshore and 0.54% by h2o routes. This shape highlights nan increasing value of aerial connectivity, which has go much robust complete nan years.

What Should Travelers Know?

As India’s outbound recreation marketplace continues to grow, it’s important for travelers to beryllium alert of cardinal trends and tips to guarantee soft and enjoyable trips abroad.

1. Book Early to Avoid Peak Prices: With nan maturation successful world travel, it’s advisable to book flights and accommodations good successful beforehand to debar inflated prices, particularly to celebrated destinations for illustration nan UAE and nan US.
2. Stay Updated connected Travel Restrictions: Given nan fluctuating quality of world recreation regulations, staying informed connected immoderate recreation restrictions aliases visa requirements is essential.
3. Plan for Digital Connectivity: As world connectivity increases, see purchasing world SIM cards aliases activating world roaming to enactment connected during your travels.
4. Explore Emerging Destinations: While accepted favorites for illustration nan UAE and nan US stay popular, emerging destinations for illustration Pakistan are offering much opportunities for Indian tourists. Always support an oculus retired for caller and breathtaking places to explore.

In Focus: The Future of Indian Outbound Travel

The continuing maturation of India’s outbound recreation assemblage paints a affirmative image for nan early of world tourism. With expanding disposable income, expanding aerial connectivity, and rising liking successful world experiences, India’s domiciled successful world tourism will only proceed to grow. Despite nan diminution successful immoderate celebrated destinations for illustration nan Maldives, nan wide outlook remains upbeat, pinch much Indians looking to recreation overseas for some leisure and business purposes.

The description of world recreation opportunities, mixed pinch a increasing penchant for divers destinations, indicates that India will proceed to beryllium a awesome contributor to world tourism maturation successful nan years ahead.