Agoda sees 67% rise in int'l travel interest to India for Diwali 2025

South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia emerging as new inbound markets for festive period

Don't want to miss the best from Business Standard?

Online searches by foreigners about travelling to India during Diwali have grown 67 per cent this season from the year before, according to a digital travel platform’s data.

 

Agoda, which is part of Booking Holdings, analysed accommodation searches made on its platform from February to August for check-ins between October 17 to 23 this year, compared to October 28 to November 3 in 2024.

 

“It’s wonderful to see so many international visitors eager to experience the unique cultural festivals that India has to offer. Diwali, with its traditions of light, community, and celebration, provides an unmatched opportunity for travellers to immerse themselves in India’s rich cultural fabric,” said Gaurav Malik, country director, Indian subcontinent and Indian Ocean Islands, Agoda, in a press statement.

 

“What’s particularly exciting is the emergence of newer source markets such as South Korea, alongside consistent demand from regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia,” he said.

 

Searches from South Korea increased 45 per cent compared to last year, while travel interest from Thailand nearly doubled. Searches from Malaysia increased 25 per cent. Searches from the United Arab Emirates surged 87 per cent, and those from the United States rose 28 per cent.

 

Agoda’s data comes at a time when India is yet to reach its pre-pandemic foreign tourist arrival (FTA) levels. As many as 626,000 FTAs were recorded in April, down 19.2 per cent compared to 2019. From January to June 2025, total FTAs stood at 427,000, a 13 per cent decline compared to the same period last year.

 

Domestic travel interest rose 18 per cent in terms of searches, said Agoda. “Goa topped the rank as the most searched destination for the festive period. Among the top five destinations, Udaipur and Jaipur recorded 49 per cent and 46 per cent growth in searches, respectively, reflecting their reputation as centres of cultural richness.”

 

Travel searches for New Delhi doubled, while those for Mumbai rose 18 per cent compared to last year, reaffirming these cities’ positions as key metropolitan hubs for both domestic and international visitors looking to experience Diwali celebrations, the travel aggregator said.