A report suggests that visa applications in India in the first half of 2024 (January to June) have exceeded the 2019 volumes by 2%. There has also been an 11% year-over-year growth in application counts since 2023. These growing visa application volumes show a steady outbound travel boom in the country. Read on to know more about it.
Visa Applications In India Surpass Pre-Pandemic Volumes As Outbound Travel Booms
As per a VFS Global report, outbound travel demand in India has been restored to its pre-pandemic levels! VFS Global, a visa and passport administration outsourcing company that manages visa applications for 51 countries from India, have reported that the visa application volumes recorded in the first half of 2024 have surpassed the same period in 2019 by 2%.
That’s not all, this outbound travel demand in India has also seen a steady 11% year-over-year growth in application counts as compared to the first half of 2023. While talking to Bizz Buzz, Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer South Asia for VFS Global said that India has witnessed an extended travel season over the past two years. She further believes that this momentum will last till the year-end.
Also Read: Sri Lanka Announces Visa-Free Access To 35 Countries Including India From October 31
Some Popular Destinations Among Indians Are…
Seeing the outbound travel boom in the country, we’re sure you must be wondering where Indians are travelling to. Well, as per the VFS Global report, some of the popular destinations among Indians right now are Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the USA and the UK.
VFS Global also saw a predominant trend for tailored services in visa application behaviours. Applicants are now demanding personalised services such as Visa at Your Doorstep (VAYD). In fact, VAYD bookings in the first half of 2024 in India registered around a five-fold increase when compared to 2019.
What’s your take on this outbound travel boom in India? Share your two cents on this trend in the comments!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)