Latest news with #Philippines-related
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Visa-free entry boosts travel to Philippines; online searches from India jump 28%; surge led by couples, first-time travelers
AI image NEW DELHI: Travel searches for the Philippines have surged among Indian tourists after the country announced visa-free entry for Indian passport holders, allowing stays of up to 14 days. According to visa processing platform Atlys, searches from India for travel to the Philippines jumped 28% after the update. Before the announcement, the country ranked eighth among the most searched Southeast Asian destinations by Indian travellers on Atlys. It has now jumped to third place, just behind Thailand and Indonesia. According to travel platform Atlys, searches for the Philippines jumped 28% soon after the announcement, and a sustained 20–30% increase in demand is expected over the coming months. "After the announcement, it swiftly climbed to third place, trailing only Thailand and Indonesia. The sudden repositioning underscores the significant impact visa accessibility can have on destination interest, particularly within India's fast-growing outbound travel market," Atlys said in a statement on Tuesday. Data from Atlys shows that the surge is mainly driven by couples and honeymooners, who account for 42% of all recent Philippines-related searches. Solo travellers make up 27%, primarily from metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. Families represent another 21%, with many planning multi-stop itineraries that combine beach destinations like Palawan and Cebu with the city attractions of Manila, reported PTI. The policy change has also opened doors for first-time international travellers, who are increasingly seeing the Philippines as a viable and attractive destination without the hassle of visa applications. The Philippines officially joined a growing list of countries offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to Indian tourists on Sunday. Others in this group include Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka (free e-visa), Seychelles, Indonesia (visa on arrival), Maldives, Nepal, and Hong Kong (with online pre-clearance), according to Anil Kalsi, Vice President of the Travel Agents Federation of India. "Indian nationals may enter the Philippines without a visa for a non-extendible and non-convertible period of 14 days for tourism purposes, upon presenting a passport valid for at least six months beyond the contemplated stay, confirmed hotel accommodation/ booking, proof of financial capacity, and return or onward ticket to the next country of destination," the website of the Philippines embassy in New Delhi said. "Indian nationals holding valid and current American, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore or United Kingdom (AJACSSUK) visas or residence permits may enter the Philippines without a visa for a non-extendible period of 30 days for tourism, upon presenting a passport valid for at least six months beyond the contemplated stay, and return or onward ticket to the next country of destination," it added. Adding to the momentum, Air India will launch direct flights between Delhi and Manila starting October 1, 2025, improving travel access. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
After going visa-free, Philippines sees 28 pc surge in travel searches from India, says Atlys
Travel searches for the Philippines from India rose 28 per cent after the Southeast Asian country announced visa-free entry, according to visa processing platform Atlys . The Philippines had recently announced visa-free entry to Indian nationals for stays of up to 14 days. Earlier, the Philippines ranked as the eighth most searched Southeast Asian destination among Indian travellers on the Atlys platform. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The price of dental implants may surprise you Dental Implants | Search Ads Search Now Undo "After the announcement, it swiftly climbed to third place, trailing only Thailand and Indonesia. The sudden repositioning underscores the significant impact visa accessibility can have on destination interest, particularly within India's fast-growing outbound travel market," the company said in a statement on Tuesday. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Based on trends seen in similar cases, the platform expects a 20-30 per cent rise in sustained demand over the coming months. Live Events "The removal of visa restrictions has clearly lowered the friction for planning travel. With this policy shift, it's no longer a distant consideration, it's an immediate contender," Atlys founder and CEO Mohak Nahta said. Data from Atlys further revealed that the search is mainly driven by couples and honeymooners, with 42 per cent of all recent Philippines-related searches on the platform. It is followed by solo travellers at 27 per cent, with most of the interest originating from major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. Families accounted for another 21 per cent, many of whom are planning multi-stop itineraries that combine beach escapes like Palawan and Cebu with urban experiences in Manila. The platform is also seeing a noticeable uptick in interest from first-time international travellers, many of whom are now considering the Philippines as a viable option thanks to the removal of visa-related barriers that would have previously discouraged such plans, according to the data. Adding to this momentum, Air India has announced non-stop flights between Delhi and Manila starting October 1, 2025, which will help in improving accessibility.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Philippines sees travel surge from India after visa-free entry approval
The Philippines' recent decision to grant visa-free entry to Indian nationals for stays of up to 14 days has seen travel searches from India spike 28 per cent within a week of the announcement. The Philippines jumped from eighth to third among the most searched Southeast Asian destinations, as per Atlys, a leading visa processing platform. Based on historical trends seen in similar cases, the platform projects a further 20–30 per cent rise in sustained demand over the coming months. Before this announcement, the Philippines ranked as the eighth most searched Southeast Asian destination among Indian travellers on Atlys. In the days that followed, it swiftly climbed to third place, trailing only Thailand and Indonesia. The sudden repositioning underscores the significant impact visa accessibility can have on destination interest, particularly within India's fast-growing outbound travel market. Mohak Nahta, founder and chief executive officer of Atlys, said, 'The removal of visa restrictions has clearly lowered the friction for planning travel. The Philippines has always had the right ingredients to attract Indian tourists: sun, sea, culture. But now, with this policy shift, it's no longer a distant consideration, it's an immediate contender.' Search data from Atlys further reveals who is driving this demand. Couples and honeymooners lead the pack, making up 42 per cent of all recent Philippines-related searches on the platform. Solo travellers follow at 27 per cent, with most of the interest originating from major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. Families account for another 21 per cent, many of whom are planning multi-stop itineraries that combine beach escapes like Palawan and Cebu with urban experiences in Manila. Interestingly, the platform is also seeing a noticeable uptick in interest from first-time international travellers, many of whom are now considering the Philippines as a viable option thanks to the removal of visa-related barriers that would have previously discouraged such plans. Adding to this momentum, Air India has announced non-stop flights between Delhi and Manila starting 01 October 2025. This development is expected to further ease travel planning and drive even greater interest among Indian tourists by significantly improving accessibility. The visa-free entry applies exclusively to tourism and is not extendable or convertible. To be eligible, Indian travellers must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay, proof of accommodation, a confirmed return or onward ticket, and adequate financial means. A clean immigration record with the Philippines is also mandatory. Arrivals are permitted via all international airports and seaports, offering broad accessibility for Indian tourists across the country. With this move, the Philippines joins a growing list of Southeast Asian destinations recognising the scale and potential of the Indian outbound travel market. The country's idyllic beaches, world-class diving, vibrant festivals, and rich heritage now sit just a short flight away, without the administrative hurdles that previously held travellers back. As demand builds, the Philippines is now well-positioned to emerge as a short-haul favourite for Indian tourists, both seasoned and first-time.
