Growing demand from Indians for a wider mix of beach tourism options across SE Asia: Report
Credits - Unsplashed - Jayanth Muppaneni
According to the report Indian travellers are moving beyond traditional coastal hubs to explore varied, immersive destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean.
Recent search data from digital travel platform Agoda reveals a significant shift in Indian outbound travel behavior for this July and August. While traditional coastal hubs remain resilient, market intelligence indicates a broadening of the Indian traveller’s “coastal portfolio,” with increased search volume for secondary destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean.
Travellers are looking to explore destinations that offer immersive cultural experiences and different types of coastal landscapes, reflecting an appetite to discover more of what each region has to offer.
Among the destinations seeing notable search interest in Southeast Asia, Bali continues to captivate travellers most. Meanwhile, Phuket retains its spot as a crowd favourite owing to its lively coastline, bustling night markets and easy access to nearby islands, offering everything from family holidays to adventure-filled getaways.
Beyond these well-known destinations, Agoda searches point to growing interest in a wider range of destinations, each with its own unique offerings. In Indonesia, Lombok is attracting attention for its uncrowded beaches, surf culture and proximity to the Gili Islands. Vietnam is also emerging as a coastal hotspot with Phu Quoc Island offering white-sand beaches alongside protected national parks, Da Nang combining a scenic coastline with a vibrant culinary scene, and Hạ Long continuing to captivate travellers with its limestone islands and overnight cruises.
Across Thailand, destinations such as Ko Tao are drawing travellers looking for diving and a slower island pace, complementing established favourites including Krabi, Koh Samui and Pattaya. Other destinations in Southeast Asia such as Langkawi, Penang and Cebu are also garnering considerable search interest.
Along Sri Lanka’s coastline, Trincomalee, known for its calm bays and marine life, has emerged in Agoda’s search data alongside Arugam Bay, a destination that has built a reputation as one of South Asia's leading surf destinations. Together with Mirissa, known for its whale-watching experiences, as well as destinations like Galle and Bentota, Sri Lanka is increasingly appealing to travellers looking beyond traditional island holidays.
Mediterranean locales are also finding a place on Indian travellers' wish lists. Santorini continues to attract visitors with its iconic cliffside villages overlooking the Aegean Sea, Nice pairs Riviera beaches with a vibrant cultural scene, while Ibiza remains a popular choice for travellers looking to combine beach holidays with its renowned nightlife.
Gaurav Malik, Country Director, Indian Subcontinent & Indian Ocean Islands, Agoda said, “Indian travellers are increasingly broadening their horizons beyond the traditional beach favourites. While well-established coastal destinations continue to see strong interest, we are also seeing growing demand for a wider mix of beach escapes across regions. From vibrant seaside hotspots and island getaways to quieter coastal towns, travellers today are seeking more variety and choice in how they plan their beach holidays. At Agoda, we remain focused on making it easy for travellers to discover, compare and book the right stay, flight and activities for every kind of beach escape.”
