Philippines Sees 28% Increase in Searches Following Visa-Free Travel Announcement for Indians: Atlys

Interest in traveling to the Philippines has significantly increased among Indian tourists following the country’s recent announcement of visa-free entry for Indian nationals. Data from the visa processing platform Atlys reveals that travel searches from India for the Southeast Asian country surged by 28% after the policy was introduced.

The updated visa policy allows Indian travelers to visit the Philippines without a visa for up to 14 days. Before this announcement, the Philippines was the eighth most searched Southeast Asian destination on Atlys. It has now soared to third place, only behind Thailand and Indonesia.

“After the announcement

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, it quickly rose to third place, just behind Thailand and Indonesia. This rapid shift illustrates the considerable influence that visa accessibility can have on travel interest, particularly in India’s expanding outbound travel market,” stated the company on Tuesday.
Atlys expects this trend to persist, forecasting a sustained increase in demand of 20 to 30 percent in the upcoming months.

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“Eliminating visa restrictions has clearly reduced barriers for planning travel. With this policy change, it’s no longer a distant option; it’s now an immediate possibility,” said Mohak Nahta, founder and CEO of Atlys.

The platform’s data indicates that a significant portion of the recent interest in the Philippines is coming from couples and honeymooners, who represent 42 percent of all relevant searches. Solo travelers account for 27 percent, with most interest emerging from major urban centers such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru.

Families make up another 21 percent of the searches, with many looking to create multi-destination itineraries that combine beach locations like Palawan and Cebu with city experiences in Manila.

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A noticeable uptick in searches has also been observed from first-time international travelers. Atlys reports that many of these individuals were previously reluctant to plan overseas trips due to visa issues but are now viewing the Philippines as a viable option. Additionally, Air India has announced non-stop flights between Delhi and Manila starting October 1, 2025, which will improve connectivity and convenience for Indian travelers.