Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 10: India isn’t quietly travelling anymore. It’s moving loudly, deliberately, and in numbers Asia-Pacific tourism boards can’t afford to misread.
Something has shifted. Not subtly. Not politely. Indian travellers are stepping out with intent, and the Asia-Pacific region is adjusting in real time.
This is no longer about aspirational posters or polite roadshows. It’s about targets. Hard numbers. And strategies rewritten mid-flight.
South Korea saw more than 187,000 Indian visitors between January and November 2025. By year-end, that figure likely crossed 200,000, right on cue with official targets. For 2026, the ambition jumps again. A clean 250,000 Indian arrivals. No hedging.
What’s changed isn’t just volume. It’s behaviour. Indian travellers in Korea are drifting away from checklist tourism. They want regional towns. Street food. Seasonal rhythms. A sense of how people actually live. Less posing. More participation.
Japan is reading the same signals. The Japan National Tourism Organization is deliberately pulling Indian attention away from the usual Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka loop. New names are entering the pitch. Sendai. Nikko. Matsumoto. Kanazawa. Nara. Places that don’t shout but reward patience.
Hokkaido and Okinawa are climbing the interest ladder too. Kyushu is next. Japan already knows Sakura season alone won’t sustain growth. Snow destinations matter. Golf matters. Off-season travel matters. Indian tourists are staying curious longer.
Australia, on the other hand, is leaning into spectacle. Tourism Research Australia expects nearly 492,000 Indian arrivals in 2026, a 6.4 percent rise over last year. The bet is simple. Big events pull big crowds.
The Australian Open. Formula 1. Vivid Sydney. Mardi Gras. Dark Mofo in Tasmania. These aren’t just calendar fillers. They’re anchors. For Indian travellers weighing long-haul costs, an event-packed itinerary makes the math easier.
Thailand remains India’s old favourite, but it’s clearly refusing to coast. Around 2.55 million Indian tourists are expected this year. To protect that pipeline, Thailand is pushing deeper trade engagement across Indian cities. Roadshows. Familiarisation trips. New destination storytelling.
The message is shifting. Bangkok and Phuket still sell, but novelty now seals the deal. Repeat travellers want fresh corners, not recycled itineraries.
Singapore is watching India with a strategist’s calm. Indian travel styles are evolving fast, and Singapore Tourism Board is responding by tightening collaborations with travel intermediaries, Indian brands, creators, and Bollywood. It’s less about shouting. More about staying culturally plugged in.
Then there’s the scale of the outbound engine itself. In just the July to September quarter of 2025, about 8.39 million Indians travelled abroad. In the same period, India received 1.92 million foreign tourists. The contrast is blunt.
Outbound heavyweights remain familiar. UAE. Saudi Arabia. Thailand. The US. The UK. Short-haul convenience meets long-haul aspiration. And both are growing.
Visa friction, or the lack of it, is quietly doing the heavy lifting. Easier visas, affordable airfares, and experience density are pushing short-haul demand higher. Remove paperwork anxiety and Indian travellers respond almost instantly.
China’s re-entry is another signal. With direct flights resuming, interest is building again, especially for group travel, MICE segments, and cultural circuits. It’s cautious, but noticeable.
Looking ahead to 2026, Indian travellers are getting sharper with value. Not cheaper. Sharper. Destinations that offer difference without drama are winning attention.
Greece is gaining traction, helped by direct flights from low-cost carriers. Georgia is pulling interest through wine trails and energetic city life at accessible prices. The Philippines is benefiting from visa-free entry and the promise of spontaneous, experience-led travel.
What ties all of this together is confidence. Indian travellers aren’t asking for permission anymore. They expect destinations to meet them halfway. Better access. Better storytelling. Better understanding.
Asia-Pacific has noticed. And it’s reacting faster than ever.
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