SINGAPORE, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Get ready for a travel revolution, Indian passport holders! Southeast Asia is rolling out the red carpet with relaxed visa policies, making your wanderlust dreams easier to achieve than ever before. This game-changing shift is tearing down those pesky travel barriers and sparking a surge in international adventures, especially to spots that have recently become more welcoming.
Agoda, the go-to digital travel platform, has the scoop on how Indian travelers are jumping on this opportunity. They compared accommodation searches from July to December 2024 (for stays between January and May 2025) with the same period a year earlier. The results? Countries that have eased up on visa rules – we’re talking Malaysia, Palau, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka – are seeing a major uptick in interest.
Malaysia, which threw open its doors visa-free to Indian citizens in 2023, is basking in a 47% year-on-year boost in accommodation searches. Langkawi is the star of the show with a jaw-dropping 118% increase, while Kuala Lumpur and the Highlands are no slouches either, seeing 28% and 27% jumps respectively. It looks like Malaysia’s diverse travel scene is hitting all the right notes! And get this – Palau, that hidden Pacific Island paradise, saw interest skyrocket by 49% after announcing visa-free entry for Indians. Talk about putting yourself on the map!
The Philippines, long beloved for its sun-kissed beaches, joined the visa-friendly club for Indians in April 2025. Agoda’s data shows Indian travelers are all over this, with overall searches up 26% year-on-year. Manila’s leading the charge with a 43% increase, while Palawan and Cebu are hot on its heels at 30% and 25% respectively.
Not to be outdone, Sri Lanka’s decision to grant visa-free access to Indian passport holders has paid off with a 9% overall year-on-year bump. But here’s where it gets interesting – lesser-known spots like Mirissa and Nuwara Eliya are seeing surges of 31% and 16%, suggesting Indian tourists are ready to venture beyond the usual Colombo and Kandy circuit.
Mr. Gaurav Malik, Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal at Agoda, is thrilled about this trend. He says, “The easing of visa restrictions across Southeast Asia is a welcome move that resonates strongly with Indian travellers. As barriers to entry fall, we’re seeing a direct impact on travel interest and planning. This new era of accessibility is helping travellers discover not just tourist-favourites like Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka but also hidden gems like Palau. Agoda remains committed to making travel seamless and affordable, and we’re excited to see where this heightened accessibility takes Indian tourists next.”
Ready to jet off? Agoda’s got you covered with over 5 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities. Your next adventure is just a click away at Agoda.com, or better yet, snag the best deals on the Agoda mobile app. The world is your oyster – what are you waiting for?
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