India’s travel narrative in 2025 was defined less by headline-grabbing rebounds and more by the persistent preference for “friendly” nations.
Indians are making decisions based on the diplomatic soundness of relations between India and the destination countries.
Data across outbound markets shows Indian travelers keeping nations with anti-India stance at an arm’s length.
Thailand witnessed 2.48 million Indian tourists in 2025, up around 16% from 2024, providing the country a strong push despite an overall decline in its inbound numbers during the year. India was the third-largest source market for Thailand, after Malaysia and China.
Vietnam also delivered a steep growth curve. Indian arrivals surged nearly 49% year-on-year to 746,480, with December alone recording a 62.5% jump, data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism showed. The country was also among online travel company Ixigo’s new international hotspot for In