Diwali Boom: Agoda Reports Record Rise in International Travel to India

Diwali Boom: Agoda Reports Record Rise in International Travel to India (Image: Canva)

With Diwali 2025 on the anvil, there is an unprecedented interest in overseas travellers towards India. According to Agoda data, the number of searches of international visitors who plan to travel to India during the festive period has increased by 67 per cent each year. This is an indication of how Diwali has remained a cultural and tourism attraction to the world.

The fastest-growing source market has been South Korea, where searches have risen exponentially compared to the previous year. Strong double-digit growth was also registered in Thailand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, and the United States registered consistent growth. The increase in the number of searches suggests that the festive orientation of India is echoing across Asia, the Middle East and further.

The interest in domestic travel during Diwali week is also on the increase, with the expected growth of 18 per cent in searches compared to 2024. The collective domestic and foreign growth is an indication that Diwali 2025 is a perfect time to visit and explore, according to Indians and foreigners.

Goa remains at the top of the list of the most popular places, but other cultural entrapments like Jaipur and Udaipur are closely behind. There were also great spikes in interest in New Delhi and Mumbai as travellers combine the city experiences with festive celebrations.

This influx of attention is a huge prospect for the tourism industry in India. Hotels, airlines and local attractions may find it advantageous to plan on how to meet the growing demand, and state tourism boards can consider how to step up their festive marketing efforts. Diwali 2025 would be a solid recovery of the inbound tourism as a destination because of its strong traditions and other celebrations, and because of its presence across the world.