Rising travel costs have Indians picking closer getaways

Business Dec 14, 2025

With the rupee slipping and prices up, Indian travelers are choosing short-haul trips over long vacations.
Dubai is seeing more visitors, while Vietnam, Georgia, and Azerbaijan are benefiting from easier visas and better flights.
Many are also cutting their trips shorter to keep things affordable.

Quick facts: Where Indians are heading now

In 2024, nearly 31 million Indians went abroad—42% just for fun. The UAE is still the top pick, grabbing a quarter of all travelers.
Despite rising costs (up 8-15% by end of/throughout 2024 vs previous years), increased capacity from airlines like IndiGo and VietJet has helped keep fares steady for places like Thailand and Vietnam, keeping demand strong even as budgets tighten.