Malaysia, Philippines, and Palau are the top travel searches from India.

Indian travellers are increasingly heading to Southeast Asia as countries like Malaysia, the Philippines, Palau as Sri Lanka have visa restrictions. New data from Agoda shows a sharp rise in accommodation searches from India, particularly to destinations that recently introduced visa-free increases, indicating how policy changes shape regional travel trends.

Easing visa rules across Southeast Asia is fuelling outbound tourism from India, according to the latest figures from digital travel platform Agoda. As more countries open their borders to Indian passport holders with simplified or waived visa needs, Indian travelelrs respond with increased interest and travel planning.

Agoda analysed accommodation searches made between July and December 2024 for travel between January and May 2025. The platform observed significant year-on-year spikes in searches for countries with recently relaxed visa rules. Malaysia, which began offering visa-free entry to Indian citizens in 2023, recorded a 47% increase in accommodation searches from India. Destinations such as Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur and the Highlands saw a renewed surge in interest. Similarly, Palau, a lesser-known Pacific island nation, witnessed a 49% growth following its visa-free announcement earlier this month.

The Philippines, which extended visa-free access to Indians from June 2025, saw a 26% year-on-year increase in searches. Indian interest in Manila rose by 43%, Palawan by 30%, and Cebu by 25%. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, which introduced visa-free entry last October, registered a 9 % increase with notable gains in Mirissa and Nuwara Eliya. Commenting on the surge, Gaurav Malik, Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal at Agoda, said, “The easing of visa restrictions across Southeast Asia is a welcome move that resonates strongly with Indian travellers. As barriers to entry fall, we are seeing a direct impact on travel interest and planning. This new era of accessibility is helping travellers discover not just tourist attractions favourites like Malaysia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka, but also hidden gems like Palau.”

These policy shifts reshape Indian outbound travel preferences, encouraging visits to traditional and emerging regional destinations.

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Malaysia, Philippines, And Palau Are The Top Travel Searches From India

News Source : Economic Times