By Kavita Mistry 
As temperatures dip and festive lights brighten across India, travel momentum is reaching new heights. According to Atlys, India’s leading visa processing platform, visa applications for November 2025 to February 2026 have surged, reaffirming winter as the nation’s preferred travel season for international journeys.
The year-end period—spanning Christmas, New Year, and school holidays—has evolved into India’s peak outbound travel window. Families are reconnecting across continents, couples are planning romantic escapes, and groups of friends are seizing the year’s final opportunity for adventure.
Santosh Hegde, Head of Marketing at Atlys, said:
“Winter has firmly established itself as India’s favourite travel season, and the reasons are clear—it’s a time for celebration, connection, and exploration. Our role is to ensure that the visa process is as smooth and stress-free as possible, so travellers can focus entirely on their adventures.”
Millennials Lead the Way
Atlys data highlights that Millennials now drive 54% of total travel applications, propelled by rising disposable incomes and a stronger appetite for experience-driven travel. Notably, Schengen destinations account for 50% of millennial travel, cementing Europe’s continued allure during the festive period.
Gen Z is emerging as the fastest-growing traveller cohort, contributing 25% of visa applications, while women now represent 34% of total applicants—underscoring the growing independence and influence of female travellers. Destination preferences also vary: women are leading travel demand for Sri Lanka, while men show a stronger inclination towards Schengen destinations.
Cities and Travel Trends
Among Indian cities, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru remain the top Tier 1 markets driving outbound demand, while Tier 2 cities such as Lucknow, Ludhiana, and Surat are seeing rapid growth in visa applications.
Winter Mindsets: Snow or Sun
Atlys identifies two distinct winter travel trends:
Snow Seekers: Travellers heading to Switzerland, France, and the UK for Christmas markets, ski holidays, and northern lights experiences.
Sun Seekers: Travellers favouring warm-weather escapes to Bali, Dubai, and Sri Lanka, where beaches, outdoor adventures, and open-air celebrations dominate.
Short-haul destinations such as Vietnam, Thailand, and the UAE are also seeing robust demand, with travellers seeking quick getaways that blend celebration, convenience, and cultural discovery.
Multi-Destination and Wedding Travel Drive Growth
Flexibility is reshaping itineraries, with multi-country Schengen trips on the rise as travellers combine cross-border European journeys, often adding the UK as a capstone destination.
India’s bustling wedding season—with an estimated 4.6 million weddings between November and December—is amplifying this surge. Honeymoon and post-wedding travel are significant growth drivers, with European destinations emerging as the preferred choice for newlyweds embarking on their first journeys together.
As India’s travel appetite continues to expand, the Atlys Winter Travel Insights reaffirm a broader shift—toward seamless, experience-rich, and globally connected journeys that reflect the aspirations of a new generation of Indian travellers
