Indian Tourists Rush to Moscow, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea as Visa Rules Ease
Indian tourists are choosing new global spots at a speed that few expected this year. You can see this shift most clearly in Moscow, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea, where relaxed visa steps and better flight options are pulling more visitors. Several markets are even touching growth figures of over 40%, showing how fast travel demands are shifting.
Moscow Sees a Strong Rise
Moscow has become one of the most loved choices for Indian tourists. Officials say India is now the second-largest source of visitors to the Russian capital after China. In the first half of 2025, Moscow received 40,800 Indian tourists, which is 40 per cent more than last year.
The city has also made travel smoother with a simple e-visa. Visitors no longer need invites or hotel papers. The visa takes four days to get, and this has made short trips even easier. Moscow aims to welcome up to six million global tourists by 2030, and India is expected to play a major role.
Vietnam Becomes a Hot Favourite
Vietnam has also seen a huge spike. In the first eight months of 2025, it welcomed 443,000 Indian tourists, up 42.2% from the year before. Interest in Vietnam is growing so fast that several travel agents has launched new holiday packages to Phu Quoc, with direct flights run by Air India Express starting soon. The island has never had direct flights from India before, so this has created even more buzz.
Travel experts say new attractions inside already popular markets, like Thailand and Vietnam, are helping this rise. The Philippines is also seeing fresh demand after removing its visa requirement for Indians.
Japan Reports Steady Growth
Japan continues to draw Indian tourists for its culture, food, and clean cities. The Japan National Travel Organisation says 233,400 Indians visited between January and September 2025, up 36.6% from last year.
Travel firms note that many visitors are now staying longer. New places like Sapporo are being added to itineraries along with Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. For many Indian families, Japan remains a dream trip with simple travel plans and strong air links.
South Korea Builds on K-Wave
South Korea is enjoying strong interest from fans of K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean beauty trends. Between January and September 2025, the country received 153,619 Indian visitors, a 13% jump over last year. In 2024, the total number crossed 176,000, which was 44% higher than in 2023.
Tourism officials say travellers are now exploring more than Seoul. Cities like Busan, Gangneung and Gyeongju are getting noticed, especially after Gyeongju hosted the APEC Summit 2025. Better flights and strong promotions are also helping.
Other Markets See Shifts Too
Georgia is another rising choice, with 103,968 Indian visitors in the first nine months of 2025, up 19%. Tourism leaders say India is now one of their fastest-growing markets.
But not all countries are gaining. Azerbaijan and Turkey have seen a drop in interest from Indian travellers due to recent geopolitical positions.
Currency Snapshot For Travellers
In Russia, one ruble is roughly equal to ₹0.95, making it almost on par with the Indian rupee. Vietnam offers even stronger value, with 1,000 Vietnamese dong amounting to about ₹3.40.
Japan remains on the costlier side, where one yen equals around ₹0.56. South Korea sits somewhere in the middle, with 100 Korean won translating to approximately ₹6.30.
(Note: Values change often and can fluctuate.)
Why Indians Are Travelling More
Experts across the travel sector share a few clear reasons for this changing trend:
Simple visas like e-visas and visa-free entry
Better flight links from Indian cities
New holiday spots promoted by travel firms
Good currency value in places like Vietnam and Sri Lanka
Growing love for Asian culture, food and entertainment
Final Take
The surge in Indian outbound travel shows no sign of slowing. With easier visas, more flights, and fresh places to explore, travellers are spreading out across Asia faster than ever. Moscow, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea are leading this wave, but new names are rising each month. The shift also signals how Indian tourists now look for more than basic holidays; they want simple travel rules, quick access, and good value.
