Indian Outbound Travel Projected at 40-44 Million Trips in 2026
India’s outbound tourism is projected to reach 40-44 million trips in 2026, up from 37-39 million in 2025, according to the Government of India’s Annual Tourism Snapshot 2025.
Top destinations for Indian travelers:
UAE: 8.6 million (leading destination)
Saudi Arabia: 3.4 million
Thailand: 2.2 million
Sri Lanka: 0.53 million
Travel purpose breakdown: 43.5% leisure/recreation, 34.1% diaspora visits, 14.6% business.
Why it matters for B2B
For international DMCs, hotel groups, and tourism boards: Indian outbound is now a $23.4 billion market growing at over 11% annually (WTTC estimate). Mid-income Indian travelers are the largest outbound segment—not bargain hunters but value-seekers expecting Indian F&B options, UPI payments, and family-friendly policies.
“About 60% of Indians expect flexible check-in and check-out times when travelling domestically or internationally.”
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