Connect with us

Business

Thailand and Malaysia Emerge as Favorite Visa-Free Destinations for Indian Travelers

Published

on

Thailand and Malaysia Emerge as Favorite Visa-Free Destinations for Indian Travelers

Indonesian emerges as the top visa on arrival destination for Indian travelers, alongside Thailand and Malaysia, highlighting a trend towards easy entry and diverse cultural experiences in Asia.

Key Highlights

  • Top Visa-Free Destinations for Indians
    • Thailand and Malaysia are the most preferred visa-free destinations.
    • Indonesia leads as the top visa-on-arrival (VOA) destination.
  • Travel Trends (Jan 2026 Data)
    • Agoda analyzed Indian accommodation searches for Feb–Mar 2026.
    • Top five destinations: Thailand (visa-free), Indonesia (VOA), Malaysia (visa-free), Sri Lanka (VOA), Maldives (visa-free).
  • Growth in Emerging Destinations
    • Sri Lanka saw a 61% increase in searches year-on-year.
    • Philippines (visa-free) ranked sixth with 73% growth, driven by beach and adventure tourism.
    • Laos (VOA) recorded the strongest growth at 97%, positioning itself as a culturally rich alternative.

Indonesia Emerges as the Top Visa on arrival Destination Based on Accommodation Search Data

The latest accommodation search data from digital travel platform Agoda reveals Thailand and Malaysia as the most preferred visa free international destinations among Indian travellers. Indonesia continues to lead among visa on arrival (VOA) markets. The data reflects an uptick in interest compared to last year toward destinations across Asia that combine easy entry requirements with diverse leisure and cultural experiences.

Agoda analysed accommodation search data generated in India for visa‑free and VOA destinations, between 1 and 18 January 2026, for check‑in dates between February and March 2026.

Among the combined top five destinations searched with visa free or VOA status, Thailand ranked first, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Thailand (visa free) and Indonesia (VOA) remain firm favourites, offering diverse mix of beaches, culture, and adventure, while Malaysia (visa free) combines urban and natural experiences.

Advertisement

Sri Lanka (VOA) recorded notable growth in accommodation searches, registering a 61% increase compared to last year, supported by its proximity and diverse offerings. Maldives (visa free) continues to draw Indian travellers seeking premium island escapes and short haul luxury stays. Together, these destinations underscore how Indian travellers are choosing destinations that offer strong value and simplified entry.

Beyond the top five, Philippines (visa free) ranked sixth and recorded 73% year-on-year search growth, driven by interest from beach loving and adventure-oriented travellers, with water sports remaining a key draw. While Nepal (visa free) ranked seventh. Kazakhstan (visa free) ranked eighth and is seeing interest for its distinctive Central Asian landscapes, while Bhutan (visa free) ranked ninth and attracts travellers drawn to wellness and cultural immersion. Laos (VOA) ranked tenth and recorded the strongest search growth among all top destinations with a 97% increase, positioning itself as a culturally rich alternative within Southeast Asia, aided by simplified visa access and growing awareness among Indian travellers.

Travellers planning their upcoming getaways can browse Agoda’s wide range of offerings, spanning over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000+ activities worldwide. The latest deals are available on the Agoda app or at agoda.com/deals.

Source : Thailand and Malaysia Lead as Top Visa‑Free Destinations for Indian Travellers – Agoda

Advertisement

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Plan to increase youth minimum wage could be delayed

Published

on

Plan to increase youth minimum wage could be delayed

Government sources tell BBC News they could slow down plans to make minimum wage equal across age groups.

Continue Reading

Business

Queen Camilla visits Bath and receives three books for Buckingham Palace library

Published

on

Business Live

She also visited the Theatre Royal and the Holburne Museum during her trip

Queen Camilla at Persephone Books in Bath

Queen Camilla at Persephone Books in Bath(Image: © Suzy Slemen)

Queen Camilla travelled to Bath this week where she visited the city’s Holburne Museum, the historic Theatre Royal and an independent publisher that reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction mostly by women. During her trip to Persephone bookshop on Tuesday (February 17) the Queen, 78, met founder Nicola Beauman and managing director Francesca Beauman.

During the meeting, the trio discussed the importance of creating a 20th-century literary canon based around domestic feminist narratives. They also chatted about the need to rescue lost literary voices and how readers are more used to male literary perspectives on the First and Second World War than female ones.

The Queen also described the new Buckingham Palace library where she is planning to include her Persephone books.

Francesca Beauman said: “We were thrilled to welcome Her Majesty the Queen to Persephone Books. She came to Bath to visit the Holburne Museum, the Theatre Royal and us.

Advertisement

“We showed her round the bookshop, then she sat down at the ‘wrapping table’ and had a cup of tea (‘milk and one’). A tiny etiquette drama as we weren’t sure whether to pour the milk for her, or not! We had a delightful chat about, not to be immodest, why our books are so wonderful.”

She added: “There was a large and affectionate crowd waiting outside as she left, with three of our books, if she ever has time to read them: Crooked Cross by Sally Carson, They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple and Mariana by Monica Dickens.”

Persephone Books MD Francesca Beauman welcomes HM the Queen to the  Persephone bookshop in Bath

Persephone Books MD Francesca Beauman welcomes HM the Queen to the Persephone bookshop in Bath(Image: © Suzy Slemen)

During her trip to Bath, the Queen also paid a visit to the Theatre Royal where she watched a preview of a community production of David Copperfield.

She also visited the recently completed Schroder Gallery at the Holburne Museum and toured new exhibitions, including A Life in Print by fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes and viewed photographs by Sir Don McCullin.

Advertisement

It was Queen Camilla’s second trip to the South West this month after she visited the HQ of Avon and Somerset Police in Portishead near Bristol.

Continue Reading

Business

Red Lobster considers more restaurant closures after 2024 bankruptcy filing

Published

on

Red Lobster considers more restaurant closures after 2024 bankruptcy filing

Red Lobster is considering closing more locations as it continues to reevaluate its restaurant footprint in the wake of its 2024 bankruptcy.

The seafood chain shuttered roughly 130 restaurants when it went through the bankruptcy process and Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the company is continuing to review its locations and leases as it considers ways to curb costs.

Advertisement

Adamolekun said in the interview that visits have risen, with sales up about 10% from last year, but they haven’t recovered to pre-bankruptcy levels and many of the chain’s locations need upgrades.

“There’s a lot of positive signs, but we inherited a very damaged brand, so there’s still work to do to repair all of that,” he told the Journal.

AMERICAN SEAFOOD CHAIN IS BETTING BIG ON NOSTALGIA AND BARGAINS TO WIN BACK DINERS

Red Lobster restaurant exterior

Red Lobster is weighing additional location closures as it continues to restructure its business. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy in May 2024 after it racked up steep losses amid reduced sales and losses generated from an endless shrimp deal that was originally priced at $20. 

Advertisement

The company is also dealing with the fallout from a 2014 move that sold off ownership of the chain’s real estate and saddled the company with lease payments. 

Some of those leases involve multiple restaurants, which Adamolekun said has made it difficult to close some poorly performing locations because their lease is linked with higher performing ones.

RED LOBSTER’S ENDLESS SHRIMP DEAL CREATED ‘A LOT OF CHAOS,’ NEW CEO DIVULGES ON BANKRUPTCY

headshot of Damola Adamolekun

Damola Adamolekun was named CEO of Red Lobster in August 2024. (Fortress Investment Group)

The Journal reported that people familiar with the company’s discussions said Red Lobster would ideally have dozens fewer restaurants in its portfolio so that it could focus on higher-performing locations.

Advertisement

Adamolekun was hired as CEO by the chain’s new ownership in August 2024 after he led a restructuring effort at P.F. Chang’s. 

The company has cut roughly 10% of its corporate staff in recent months and the Journal’s report noted that Red Lobster is negotiating with seafood vendors as tariffs have pushed the costs of imported seafood higher.

EXPERTS SAY RED LOBSTER’S SHRIMP EXCUSE IS ‘SMOKE SCREEN’ FOR REAL PROBLEMS

Red Lobster waitress carries tray

A waitress carries a tray of a lobster kettle and a crab trio dish at a Red Lobster restaurant in Yonkers, New York. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Adamolekun told the Journal that once the company has dealt with struggling locations, Red Lobster could look to expand in upstate New York and New England, where it has a limited presence. 

Advertisement

He’s also considering franchise deals for international locations as well as selling more Red Lobster-branded products, like Cheddar Bay Biscuit mixes, through retail channels.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

FOX Business reached out to Red Lobster for comment.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Business

Straumann beats Q4 sales estimates, keeps margin guidance despite China slowdown

Published

on


Straumann beats Q4 sales estimates, keeps margin guidance despite China slowdown

Continue Reading

Business

Keystone Law reports revenue and profit ahead of market expectations

Published

on


Keystone Law reports revenue and profit ahead of market expectations

Continue Reading

Business

General Mills cuts profit forecast as shoppers change buying habits

Published

on

General Mills cuts profit forecast as shoppers change buying habits

Cheerios maker General Mills cut its annual sales and profit forecasts, citing weak consumer sentiment and a shift toward healthier and lower-cost food options that are pressuring demand for packaged products.

“Weak consumer sentiment, heightened uncertainty, and significant volatility have weighed on category growth and impacted consumer purchase patterns, resulting in a slower pace and higher cost of volume recovery than initially expected,” the company said in a statement ahead of its presentation at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference on Tuesday morning. 

Advertisement

The shifting consumer landscape, driven in part by the growing preference for healthier options and increased adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, is adding further pressure to packaged food demand.

cheerios box on a shelf

Packages of Cheerios, a brand owned by General Mills, are seen in a store in Manhattan. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

WENDY’S TO CLOSE HUNDREDS OF RESTAURANTS AS COMPANY LOOKS TO FOCUS ON VALUE TO BOOST SALES

General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening said during the company’s presentation at CAGNY that the growing competition for protein options is also a factor. General Mills has its own line of protein cereals.

“We expect GLP-1 and other anti-obesity medications to have a lasting influence in the food and nutrition landscape, nudging some consumers toward smaller portions and more nutrient-dense protein and fiber-forward foods,” Harmening said.

Advertisement

The chief executive also said the company recognizes that its lower- and middle-income consumers have increasingly focused on value as economic pressures continue to weigh on their budgets.

“Cost of living and housing pressures are reshaping spending patterns and value is a core expectation that is here to stay,” Harmening said.

General Mills Inc. brand Cheerios cereal for sale at a grocery store...

Cheerios for sale at a grocery store on Dec. 22, 2025 in Durham, North Carolina. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

Earlier this month, PepsiCo cut prices on core brands such as Lay’s and Doritos by up to 15% following a consumer backlash against earlier price hikes.

Peer Conagra, maker of Slim Jim meat snacks, has maintained its annual sales and profit targets despite reporting a muted second quarter.

Advertisement

General Mills, which left its annual outlook unchanged in December, has been grappling with muted demand as Americans curb discretionary spending and shift to cheaper pantry staples.

shopper picks up cheerios

A woman shops for Cheerios at a Price Chopper supermarket in South Burlington, Vermont, Nov. 6, 2017. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)

General Mills now expects annual sales to decline 1.5% to 2%, compared with its prior range of down 1% to up 1%.

‘NOBULL MENTALITY’ TAKES NEXT STEP WITH NUTRITION LINE AS OWNER MIKE REPOLE VOWS TO HELP PEOPLE WIN AT LIFE

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
GIS GENERAL MILLS INC. 44.96 -3.38 -6.99%

The company also forecast annual adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share will fall 16% to 20% in constant currency, versus its previous outlook for a 10% to 15% decline.

Advertisement

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

Reuters contributed to this report.

Continue Reading

Business

Tesla avoids California suspension after ending ‘autopilot’ marketing

Published

on

Tesla avoids California suspension after ending 'autopilot' marketing

Tesla will avoid a 30-day suspension of its dealer and manufacturer licenses in California after complying with a state order to stop using the term “autopilot” when marketing its vehicles, state regulators said Tuesday.

The decision comes after the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) found in December 2025 that Tesla violated state law by misleadingly marketing its electric vehicles with the terms “autopilot” and “full self-driving.”

Advertisement

The regulator said Tuesday that Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company took “corrective action” and had stopped using the term “autopilot,” and noted that Tesla already modified its use of the term “full self-driving” by clarifying that driver supervision is required.

CHINA MOVES TO BAN FEATURE COMMONLY SEEN ON TESLA VEHICLES OVER FEAR OF TRAPPED PASSENGERS

Tesla Palo Alto California

Tesla avoided a 30-day suspension of its California sales licenses after regulators said the company complied with an order to stop using the term “autopilot” in its marketing. (Yichuan Cao/NurPhoto / Getty Images)

“The DMV is committed to safety throughout all California’s roadways and communities,” California DMV Director Steve Gordon said in a statement. “The department is pleased that Tesla took the required action to remain in compliance with the State of California’s consumer protections.”

According to the DMV, Tesla’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) marketing materials beginning in 2021 used the terms “autopilot” and “full self-driving capability,” along with the phrase, “The system is designed to be able to conduct short and long-distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver’s seat.”

Advertisement

However, the DMV said the vehicles “could not at the time of those advertisements, and cannot now, operate as autonomous vehicles.”

The DMV filed accusations against Tesla’s manufacturer and dealer licenses in November 2023, and the automaker Tesla discontinued use of the term “full self-driving capability” after noting that the system required driver supervision.

TESLA ENDS PRODUCTION OF MODEL S AND MODEL X VEHICLES, WILL FOCUS ON ROBOTS IN 2026

A Tesla car charges

California regulators said Tesla took corrective action in its marketing of driver-assistance features, avoiding a temporary suspension of its sales licenses. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Last year, the California Office of Administrative Hearings held a hearing before an administrative law judge, who issued a proposed decision in November finding that the term “autopilot” violated state law.

Advertisement

The DMV had given Tesla 60 days to take corrective action. By complying, Tesla avoided a temporary suspension in California — its largest U.S. market.

According to its website, Tesla’s “autopilot” feature allows vehicles to match the speed of traffic and assists with steering within a marked lane.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Elon Musk World Economic forum

Tesla, led by Elon Musk, complied with a state order to stop using the term “autopilot” in California advertising, regulators said. (Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The “full self-driving (supervision)” feature alerts drivers of stop signs and traffic lights, and can slow the vehicle to a stop while approaching the signal, all with driver supervision.

Advertisement

FOX Business reached out to Tesla for comment.

Continue Reading

Business

Glencore profit falls 6%, announces $2 billion shareholder return

Published

on


Glencore profit falls 6%, announces $2 billion shareholder return

Continue Reading

Business

Opinion: Systems change to unlock innovation

Published

on

Opinion: Systems change to unlock innovation

OPINION: Overcoming systemic challenges can help businesses unlock innovation.

Continue Reading

Business

Lower fuel prices and airfares help drive inflation down

Published

on

Lower fuel prices and airfares help drive inflation down

The rate at which prices are rising is slowing down, which could lead to lower interest rates.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025