Industry stakeholders report that lengthy visa processing times are dampening the increase in Indian travelers heading to the United States.
VisaGuide.World recently noted a rise in travel demand from Indians to the US. However, according to Veena Robinson, Vice President of India Sales at Discover Destinations, this surge is tempered by limited visa appointments. Robinson highlighted that roadshows across various Indian cities, including tier-II and tier-III markets, reveal growing outbound interest from families, students, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) groups. Yet, due to the scarcity of visa slots, many travelers are deferring their plans to next year.
Harvinder Singh, Director of Middle East & India at United Airlines, emphasized that demand is strong among business travelers, students, and tourists. He also observed increased interest from small and medium-sized enterprises in non-metro Indian cities seeking business opportunities in the US.
Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, suggested that introducing short-term tourist visas could alleviate visa challenges. He noted that demand for travel to the US is expected to rise and advocated for increased visa capacity and availability as a solution to the current issues.
US Remains Top Destination for Indian Students
The Open Doors Report (ODR), released in November 2023, identified the US as the preferred destination for Indian students pursuing higher education. The report also highlighted a 35 percent increase in international students in India for the 2022-23 academic year, reaching a record high of 268,923 students. Additionally, India surpassed China to become the largest source of international graduate students in the US for the first time since the 2009/10 academic year.
Indian Companies Invest Over $40 Billion in the US
As of May 2023, 163 Indian companies had invested over $40 billion in the US, according to a survey titled “Indian Roots, American Soil” by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). This investment has led to the creation of approximately 425,000 jobs in the US.
Indians Continue to be Major Visitors to the US
Despite the challenges posed by long visa wait times, Indians were the second-largest group of overseas visitors to the US in the summer of 2023. This information was reported by the US Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) in its inbound survey of international air travelers for the second quarter of last year, covering April to June.