US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, UK, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Oman and More Attract Millions of Indian Travellers in 2024, Representing Key Growth Markets in Global Tourism

Published on November 27, 2025

In 2024, countries like the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, and more have attracted millions of Indian travellers, solidifying their position as key growth markets in global tourism. Several factors contribute to this trend: stronger economic ties between India and these nations, enhanced air connectivity, and growing disposable incomes among Indian travellers. Additionally, the diverse travel opportunities these countries offer—ranging from business, leisure, and educational opportunities to family visits—make them consistently popular among Indian nationals. With a substantial increase in international departures and a surge in interest for both short-term and long-term travel, these destinations are not just continuing to lead the pack but are expanding their influence in the global tourism landscape. As Indian travellers continue to explore new regions and broaden their global experiences, these countries are expected to maintain their stronghold as prime destinations.

India’s outbound travel sector recorded another year of strong expansion in 2024, driven by rising incomes, improved global connectivity and evolving travel aspirations. At the forefront of preferred destinations was the UAE, which once again emerged as the country most visited by Indian nationals. Close behind were Saudi Arabia, the United States, Thailand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Canada, Kuwait and Oman. Together, these ten destinations absorbed nearly three-quarters of all international departures from India, reflecting their sustained appeal among a wide range of travellers.

Fresh figures from the latest India Tourism Data Compendium show that leisure travel continued to dominate outbound movement. Holidays, beach getaways and general recreation made up 42.5% of all trips. Strong ties with overseas communities also played a major role, as visits to family and acquaintances accounted for 34.6% of departures. Business commitments represented 14.9%, while the remainder consisted of pilgrimage, education and varied personal purposes.

India’s outbound recovery story stands out globally. After a sharp fall of almost 73% in 2020, the reopening of borders and easing of restrictions sparked a dramatic turnaround. Departures multiplied in 2022, growing by more than 150%, and the resurgence continued in 2023, when travel volumes climbed to 27.8 million—well above pre-pandemic levels. This upward curve extended into 2024, which saw a further increase of 10.7% over the previous year.

A combination of economic and infrastructure factors supported this growth. Higher disposable incomes across metropolitan and smaller cities allowed more travellers to plan international trips that were previously out of reach. Airlines expanded their schedules, added new global routes and increased seat capacity, making travel faster and more accessible. Digital platforms offering travel deals, destination inspiration and simplified planning tools also influenced travellers’ choices and encouraged them to explore new regions.

The demographic pattern of travellers reinforces these shifts. Outbound movement was led by India’s working population, especially those between 25 and 34 years old, who formed 27.4% of total departures. This generation has increasingly embraced international exploration, weekend travel and mixed-purpose trips combining leisure and work. The next major group, aged 35 to 44, accounted for 24.5% of total travellers. Males represented 65.8% of overall departures, while females contributed 34.1%, reflecting a growing but still developing trend of independent or group travel among women.

Destination trends remained consistent across multiple years. The UAE held its long-standing position as India’s top international destination. Approximately 7.8 million Indians travelled there in 2024, amounting to just over a quarter of all outbound trips. Its popularity is supported by short flying times, a vast tourism industry, business opportunities and a familiar cultural environment shaped by a large Indian community.

Saudi Arabia continued its rise as a major outbound hub, attracting around 3.4 million Indian travellers in 2024. Its growing tourism initiatives, large expatriate population and strengthening aviation network contributed to its second-place ranking. The United States, despite a slight decline in its share of total departures, drew 2.1 million travellers and held its position as the third most visited country, driven by tourism, professional travel and education-related movement.

Thailand, which ranked fourth, experienced a strong revival with 1.9 million Indian visitors in 2024. Demand for affordable beach holidays, food experiences and cultural tourism continued to rise, assisted by easing travel rules and robust flight connectivity. Singapore, the UK, Qatar, Canada, Kuwait and Oman completed the top ten, each attracting travellers for a mix of holiday, transit, work and family visits.

In 2024, the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, and others attracted millions of Indian travellers, driven by strong economic ties, enhanced connectivity, and diverse travel opportunities, positioning them as key growth markets in global tourism.

Overall, India’s outbound travel in 2024 reflects a nation increasingly engaged with the world. With broader access to international trips and growing enthusiasm for global experiences, Indian travellers are poised to shape key tourism markets and drive new patterns of global mobility in the years ahead.