As Indian outbound travel diversifies, Asian destinations such as Vietnam, Japan, and Taiwan are attracting growing interest, driven by rising arrivals, evolving travel preferences, and improving accessibility. Bernard Corraya, General Manager, Wego India, examines the trends shaping demand and how these destinations are broadening choices for Indian travellers.
By Bernard Corraya, General Manager, Wego India
- Asia is playing a growing role in India’s outbound travel story
Indian travellers have an increasingly diverse range of Asian destinations to consider, from short-haul Southeast Asian markets to destinations offering culture, nature, entertainment and premium experiences. Improved connectivity, evolving visa processes and a broader range of tourism products are helping make more destinations accessible to Indian travellers.
- Vietnam is showing strong momentum
Vietnam stands out for the pace of growth from India. In the first eight months of 2026, the country welcomed 629,075 Indian visitors, up 41.9% year on year, according to official Vietnamese tourism data.
The growth reinforces Vietnam’s increasing relevance to the Indian outbound market and its ability to appeal across different types of holidays, from city and cultural trips to food-led and coastal experiences.
- Japan continues to expand its appeal
Japan is also recording continued growth from India. According to JNTO data, approximately 230,600 Indian visitors travelled to Japan between January and July 2026, up 21.7% year on year.
Japan occupies a different position from many of Asia’s value-led destinations, with its appeal spanning culture, cuisine, technology, entertainment, nature and highly distinctive seasonal experiences.
- Taiwan is emerging as a destination to watch
Taiwan is gaining traction among Indian travellers, with 46,134 visitors from India recorded in 2025, up 20.9% year on year based on arrivals by residence. More recently, Taiwan recorded 4,662 Indian visitors in June 2026, up 33.8% year on year, while July saw 3,316 visitors, up 5.1%. Taiwan is also maintaining simplified visa arrangements for Indian group tourists, while eligible Indian business travellers can access an eVisa through the relevant process.
- Different destinations are appealing to different traveller needs
The more interesting story is not which Asian destination will “win”, but how Indian outbound demand is becoming more diversified.
Vietnam is demonstrating particularly strong visitor growth; Japan combines established aspirational appeal with rising Indian arrivals; while Taiwan is emerging as a destination with growing Indian interest and a distinctive mix of culture, food, nature, technology and urban experiences.
Together, they illustrate how Indian outbound travel is expanding beyond a limited set of traditional international destinations.
- Accessibility will remain an important part of destination choice
As more destinations compete for Indian outbound travellers, the overall ease of planning a trip will remain important. Visa requirements, direct air connectivity, travel costs, accommodation choice and the range of experiences available can all influence how accessible a destination feels to travellers.
For travel platforms such as Wego, this creates an opportunity to help travellers discover and compare a broader range of destinations as they decide not only where to travel, but what kind of experience they want from their next trip.