Philippines Sees 28% Surge in Searches Following Visa-Free Travel Announcement for Indians, Says Atlys

Interest in traveling to the Philippines has surged among Indian tourists following the recent announcement of visa-free entry for Indian nationals. According to data from visa processing platform Atlys, travel searches for this Southeast Asian country from India increased by 28% after the policy was unveiled.

The new visa regulations allow Indian travelers to visit the Philippines without a visa for stays of up to 14 days. Before the announcement, the Philippines was the eighth most searched Southeast Asian destination on the Atlys platform. It has now moved up to third place, only behind Thailand and Indonesia.

“Following the announcement

, it quickly ascended to third place, just behind Thailand and Indonesia. This significant shift highlights the impact that visa accessibility can have on travel interest, especially within India’s rapidly growing outbound tourism market,” the company stated on Tuesday.
Atlys expects this trend to persist, forecasting a sustained increase in demand of 20 to 30 percent in the coming months.

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“The removal of visa restrictions has clearly eased the planning process for travel. With this policy change, the Philippines is no longer a distant option; it’s now a strong contender,” remarked Mohak Nahta, founder and CEO of Atlys.

The platform’s data shows that much of the recent interest is coming from couples and honeymooners, who represent 42 percent of all related searches. Solo travelers follow at 27 percent, with a significant portion of interest originating from major metropolitan areas such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru.

Families account for an additional 21 percent of the searches, many of whom are organizing multi-destination itineraries that include popular beach spots like Palawan and Cebu, alongside urban experiences in Manila.

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There has also been a notable increase in searches from first-time international travelers. According to Atlys, many of these individuals previously faced challenges in planning overseas trips due to visa constraints but are now viewing the Philippines as an accessible option. Furthermore, Air India has announced non-stop flights commencing between Delhi and Manila on October 1, 2025, which will improve connectivity and convenience for Indian travelers.