Atlys releases the Travel Access Report, a comprehensive ranking of 50 international destinations scored on practical accessibility for Indian travellers. The report combines Atlys visa processing insights with flight connectivity analysis, on ground costs, and demand to help travellers make clearer destination choices.
Market Context
India’s outbound travel continues to grow, but travellers still face real-world friction that goes far beyond “passport power.”
The Indian passport ranks 80th globally with access to 55 destinations visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or via ETA, up five places from the January 2025 edition (Source: Henley Passport Index, January 2026).
On the supply side, passport issuance has expanded. The Ministry of External Affairs reported that 14.65 million passports were granted in 2024. Government data shows sustained demand for international travel, with 28.10 million Indian departures abroad in 2023, and 29.14 million departures recorded through 8 December 2024 (Source: Ministry of External Affairs).
Why This Report Exists
“Indian travellers often choose between the destination they dream about and the destination they can actually access,” said Mohak Nahta, Founder and CEO of Atlys. “We see this in our data constantly. Destinations with high search interest don’t always convert to high visa applications, because somewhere between inspiration and booking, friction kills intent. The Travel Access Report is designed as a ready reckoner that surfaces that friction upfront, before travellers invest time and money into a destination that may not be practically accessible.”
Methodology
Each destination was scored across four weighted pillars: Visa Ease (25%), Connectivity (25%), Affordability (15%), and Popularity (35%). Data sources include Atlys’s proprietary data, airline schedules, independent cost per day research, and demand signals from search and booking patterns.
Top 10 Destinations
Asian destinations dominate the top of the ranking. The top 10 are: Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Maldives, Oman, and Mauritius.
Western destinations face structural accessibility barriers despite strong aspirational demand. The UK ranks 23, the USA ranks 26, while France ranks 14, Germany ranks 15, and Spain ranks 25. These destinations score well on popularity, but visa complexity, longer processing timelines, and higher trip costs reduce practical accessibility for many Indian travellers.
Category Winners
The report highlights winners across five travel styles:
-
Budget Friendly: Nepal, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
-
Impulse Getaways: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam
-
Luxury Destinations: Maldives, Switzerland, Fiji, France, Italy
-
Most Travelled by Women: Thailand, UAE, Japan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka
-
Best for Solo Travel: Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Laos, Japan
The Travel Access Report 2026 provides Indian travellers with a practical framework for destination planning, moving beyond aspirational rankings to measure real-world accessibility. By weighing visa ease, connectivity, affordability, and popularity together, the report offers a more complete picture of what it takes to reach any given destination.
