Millennials Drive Winter Travel Boom as India Sees Sharp Rise in Visa Applications
India is witnessing a major surge in international travel this winter, with visa applications rising sharply for trips between November 2025 and February 2026, according to visa platform Atlys. The holiday season—driven by Christmas, New Year breaks and school vacations—is prompting families, couples and groups of friends to plan overseas getaways. Atlys says winter has firmly become India’s favourite travel period as people seek celebration, connection and exploration.
Millennials are leading this travel boom, making up 54% of all visa applications, especially favouring Schengen destinations, which account for half of their bookings. Gen Z is also gaining momentum with a 25% share, reflecting the younger generation’s growing appetite for international travel. Women now form 34% of overall applicants, with Sri Lanka emerging as a top pick, while men continue to prefer European countries. Travel demand is strong from major metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru and rising fast in Tier 2 cities such as Lucknow, Ludhiana and Surat.
Destination choices split between winter lovers heading to Switzerland, France and the UK for snow, markets and skiing, and sun-seekers travelling to Bali, Dubai and Sri Lanka. Short-haul favourites like Vietnam, Thailand and the UAE remain popular for quick holiday escapes. Growing flexibility in itineraries is also pushing more Indians toward multi-country Schengen trips, with European getaways becoming increasingly popular for honeymoons and post-wedding travel.
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