Thailand overtakes UAE as top New Year international destination for Indian travellers: MakeMyTrip

Thailand has emerged as the most booked international destination for Indian travellers during the year-end and New Year holiday period, overtaking the United Arab Emirates, according to booking data released by MakeMyTrip.

Citing user bookings for travel between December 20, 2025 and January 5, 2026, the NASDAQ-listed online travel agency said the data points to sustained outbound demand, led largely by short-haul international destinations and higher spending on accommodation. Southeast Asian markets with easier visa or visa-free access continued to see strong traction.

Vietnam recorded the sharpest rise in rankings, climbing to fourth position this year from seventh during the same period in 2024. Other destinations featuring in the top 10 included Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States and Hong Kong.

In comparison, last year’s list was led by the UAE, followed by Thailand and Sri Lanka, with Australia also featuring among the top destinations.

MakeMyTrip said short-haul international travel continued to account for a large share of outbound bookings, with Southeast Asia and parts of the Middle East benefiting from simpler entry requirements. The platform also observed a shift in accommodation preferences.

While bookings in the Rs 2,500-5,000 per night segment saw some moderation, the Rs 5,000-7,500 category gained share, indicating a growing preference for premium stays among travellers.

“Thailand emerged as the leading international destination for the New Year period and has moved to the #1 position, overtaking the UAE. Vietnam stood out this year, ranked seventh during the same period in 2024 and has now risen sharply to become one of the four most booked New Year international destinations,” MakeMyTrip said.

Domestic travel also remained robust during the holiday period. Goa, Jaipur and Udaipur emerged as the top three domestic leisure destinations based on year-on-year booking trends. The company said demand continued across both leisure and pilgrimage travel, with travellers increasingly combining holidays with spiritually oriented journeys.

“Short-haul international travel continues to see momentum, led by familiar regions even as newer destinations begin to gain traction. The impact of easier visa and visa-free access is playing out consistently, reinforcing India’s growing appetite for outbound travel,” said Rajesh Magow.