Indian Travellers

New rules in force from Wednesday will see the UK transition to a digital transit system, including mandatory eVisas for Indian travellers and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for non-visa requiring visitors. The new procedure will replace paper-based visa stickers as part of a phased programme over recent years. While the new system will still involve a physical visit to the application centre for biometric registration, it will do away with the need to leave behind the passport document during the processing period. "I'd urge anyone wanting to travel to the UK to ensure they are travel-ready and have the right permission, to make their journey much smoother," said Mike Tapp, UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship. It will be mandatory for visitors to the UK to have obtained digital permission to travel, which means airlines can prevent passengers from boarding planes if they do not have an eVisa, ETA or other valid documentation. The UK government had launched the eVisa .

NASDAQ-listed travel booking platform MakeMyTrip on Monday announced a strategic partnership with Minor Hotels, a global hospitality group that operates more than 560 properties worldwide. The collaboration expands international stay options for Indian travellers across city hotels and resort destinations in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East when booked through the platform. It is part of MakeMyTrip's broader strategy to expand its direct international hotel inventory. Minor Hotels portfolio, including Anantara Hotels & Resorts, Elewana Collection, The Wolseley Hotels, Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, Minor Reserve Collection, NH Collection Hotels & Resorts, nhow Hotels & Resorts, Avani Hotels & Resorts, Colbert Collection, NH Hotels & Resorts, Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites and iStay Hotels. Currently, 60 Minor Hotels properties are live on the MakeMyTrip platform, with the listing expected to scale rapidly across Minor Hotels' wider global portfolio. Rajesh Magow,

Indian arrivals edged up from 2024, while spending rose to S$1.17 billion amid campaigns, UPI rollout, airline tie-ups and new attractions

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Travel firms say the four-day Republic Day break pushed travellers towards quick, nearby getaways, with Goa leading domestically and Thailand, Vietnam overseas

From Vietnam to Spain, Indian travellers in 2026 are chasing new destinations and personalised experiences, with Gen Z driving event-led trips around concerts, festivals and global sports

China has launched an online visa application system for Indian travellers, marking a major shift in how visas are processed. Here’s what’s changed, how the new system works, and why it matters now.

Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Malaysia rounded off the top five international destinations for 2025, according to year-end travel trends by MakeMyTrip

Shikhar Aggarwal of BLS International discusses the push for faster tech-led visa services, changing Indian travel preferences, and the company's expansion across major global markets

China flights opening to give 15% rise in tourist arrivals, says JMD Aggarwal

Europe remains a top pick for Indian travellers, and this winter brings extra cheer - package prices, airfares have fallen by up to 40% between November and February, according to Cox and Kings

In the process, she draws the reader into not just the train and the intricacies of its sleeper class, but also the people, the character of cities it passes, and of course the surrounding countryside

A new Booking.com report shows 80% of Indian travellers now prefer to spend most of their time at hotels, driving a boom in experience-led stays and non-room revenues

India is witnessing a record surge in festive travel this Diwali, as travellers combine traditional celebrations and family reunions with luxury escapes and spiritual journeys, with online travel platforms reporting strong growth in domestic and international bookings, according to experts. MakeMyTrip co-founder and Group CEO Rajesh Magow said visiting friends and relatives (VFR) remains the biggest driver of festive season travel, as many Indians head back to their hometowns to celebrate Diwali. "Therefore, of the top 10 most booked destinations, five are metros: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. This year, with the festival falling early in the week, many travellers are booking their trips as early as the preceding Friday to enjoy extended festivities. "We are also observing a rise in demand for pilgrimage destinations, reflecting how families are combining festive reunions with spiritual journeys," he noted. In terms of international travel, short-haul destination

A new report shows how Gen Zs, SUVs, and short trips are driving India's road travel boom, with Tier 2 cities leading growth

According to Cox and Kings, this segment is expected to grow annually by 15-20 per cent over the next three to five years. These types of trips generally range from 10 to 12 days to over a month

According to trade experts, hotels across the state are busy and preparing for the main tourist season, from October to March, as they expect a big rush during this monsoon season

More than 40 per cent of Indian travellers forget their belongings, including clothing items, during their trips, according to a report. Nearly half (42 per cent) Indian travellers leave behind clothing items like socks, shirts, tops during their holidays, followed by electronics like earphones, chargers or power banks (37 per cent), toiletries (36 per cent), glasses (30 per cent) and jewellery/watch (22 per cent), according to the report by online travel and related services provider by Booking.com and global market research company YouGov. Indians have also forgotten important documents such as passports or IDs (17 per cent), unexpected items such as hair extensions or wigs (15 per cent), teeth aligners (13 per cent) and even pets (12 per cent) at the destination, the report said. While packing, the most commonly forgotten items by Indian travellers include phone chargers or adapters (35 per cent), followed by toothbrushes or toothpaste (33 per cent), medicines (29 per cent) and .

Foreign tourists are trickling back to China after the country loosened its visa policy to unprecedented levels. Citizens from 74 countries can now enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, a big jump from previous regulations. The government has been steadily expanding visa-free entry in a bid to boost tourism, the economy and its soft power. More than 20 million foreign visitors entered without a visa in 2024 almost one-third of the total and more than double from the previous year, according to the National Immigration Administration. This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa and go through the process, Georgi Shavadze, a Georgian living in Austria, said on a recent visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. While most tourist sites are still packed with far more domestic tourists than foreigners, travel companies and tour guides are now bracing for a bigger influx in anticipation of summer holiday goers coming to China. I'm practical

Visa searches spike 28% for Wimbledon, up to 30% for Formula 1 races as fans plan immersive trips. India eyes sports tourism with new national policy