₹1 Visa Sale Ignites Surge in International Travel Demand Across India

In early August 2025, a ₹1 visa sale launched by travel-tech platform Atlys sparked a significant surge in demand for international travel among Indian consumers. The initiative saw tier I cities like Bengaluru (11.5x growth), Mumbai (7.84x), and Delhi NCR (6.54x) record strong interest, while tier II cities were not far behind, with Mohali and Surat each clocking a 6.4x spike in travel demand.

The campaign's success was particularly notable in its ability to attract first-time international travelers and a broader demographic beyond India's major metros. Millennials proved to be the most travel-hungry group, accounting for 50% of all visa applications, followed by Gen Z at 37%. Interestingly, one in five applicants were first-time international travelers, showcasing a growing appetite for destinations like South Africa, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.

The biggest surprise of the campaign was the surge in interest for South Africa, which registered a 22-fold increase in visa applications, far exceeding its usual daily average. Other top destinations included the United States, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the UAE, highlighting a rising interest in both popular and offbeat travel locations among Indian consumers.