New Visa Applications From First-Time Travellers Surge 32%; Jaipur, Surat, Pune And Other Cities Drive Demand

A rising number of first-time Indian travellers are deciding to visit abroad amid a surge in income, rising aspirations and growing digital access to services. A report by visa processing platform Atlys showed a 32% rise in new applications from these travellers in the last one year.  

According to Atlys’ report, more than half of the visa applications from the first-time travellers came from tier-2 and tier-3 cities of India, signalling the shift in travel habits of people.

“More than 56% of this growth has come from tier 2 and tier 3 cities such as Chandigarh, Surat, Pune, Lucknow, and Jaipur, highlighting a clear shift in where outbound travel demand is coming from,” Atlys said in a press release.

It also highlighted that most of the applicants were found to be newlyweds, young adults under 35 and families. 

"These new travellers are not just visiting family abroad or heading out on business: they're planning their first-ever vacations, booking holidays with friends, celebrating milestones, or simply chasing long-held dreams of seeing the world," it noted.

Popular destinations for first-time travellers include the UAE, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. The surge in applications for these international tourist hubs appears to be driven by factors such as easy visa approval, affordability and strong connectivity.

On the insights, Atlys CEO Mohak Nahta said, "Travel is no longer seen as a luxury, it’s become an essential part of life."

"We're seeing year-on-year growth in first-time international travellers. This segment is being driven by affordable international flights, simplified digital visa processes, and rising income levels," the CEO added.

The report also highlighted that the countries that make efforts to streamline access and approvals are certainly going to attract more of India’s growing preference for outbound tourism.

Citing the government data, the report mentioned that India issued more than 10.09 crore passports between 2014 and 2023. Yet, only 8.71% of India's population currently holds an active passport, according to the data from the Ministry of External Affairs.

“That leaves a massive pool of potential first-time travellers still waiting to take their first international step,” the report mentioned.