Lifestyle Trend: Thailand overtakes UAE as top New Year travel destination for Indians You Should Know

New Delhi: Thailand has emerged as the most popular international destination for Indian travellers during the New Year holiday period, overtaking the UAE, while Vietnam has recorded a significant jump in bookings, according to data released by online travel platform MakeMyTrip.

The NASDAQ-listed company said the trends are based on bookings made by users travelling between 20 December 2025 and 5 January 2026. The data also points to a shift in accommodation preferences, with a slight moderation in bookings in the ₹2,500–5,000 per night category, while the ₹5,000–7,500 segment has gained share, indicating a growing preference for premium stays.

Within India, Goa, Jaipur and Udaipur emerged as the top three domestic leisure destinations, reflecting strong year-on-year demand during the festive period.

“Thailand emerged as the leading international destination for the New Year period and has moved to the number one position, overtaking the UAE. Vietnam stood out this year — ranked seventh during the same period in 2024, it has now risen sharply to become one of the four most booked international destinations for New Year,” MakeMyTrip said in a statement.

The company attributed the rise in outbound travel partly to easier visa regimes, including e-visa and visa-free access, which continue to encourage Indians to travel overseas.

Commenting on the trends, MakeMyTrip Co-founder and Group CEO Rajesh Magow said domestic tourism remained strong during the year-end and New Year holidays, with sustained demand across leisure and pilgrimage destinations. He added that travellers are increasingly willing to upgrade their accommodation and are combining leisure trips with spiritually oriented journeys.

Magow also noted that short-haul international travel continues to gain momentum, led by familiar destinations, even as newer locations such as Vietnam begin to attract greater interest.

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