Indian tourist arrivals to the UK to hit 1-million mark by 2030

Rising premium travel demand, Indians going experiential, robust air connectivity and deeper trade ties are powering the next phase of UK–India tourism growth. The Visit Britain delegation shared more details during an exclusive media roundtable. 

Indian outbound travel to the UK is poised for a sharp upswing, with visitor numbers projected to grow from around 6.5 lakh in 2025 to close to one million by 2030, underlining India’s emergence as one of Britain’s most valuable long-haul source markets.

The growth outlook was outlined by Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to Republic of India, during a media interaction in New Delhi, where she described India as a “priority, high-value market” for Britain and pointed to strong fundamentals driving demand. “We see a really growing appetite for Indian travellers to visit the UK,” Cameron said, adding that Indian visitor spending is expected to cross £1 billion as early as this year. 

Beyond volumes, Cameron stressed that Indian travellers are increasingly exploring the UK beyond London. “Indian tourists don’t stick to London. They go beyond England—to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland,” she noted, highlighting the appeal of regional destinations and the complementary seasonality between the two markets. 

A key enabler of this expansion is air connectivity, which Cameron described as an “important driver” of growth. India and the UK are currently linked by over 170 weekly flights, with increasing access not only to London but also to regional gateways such as Manchester and Birmingham, and from a wider range of Indian cities.

Manchester has emerged as a strong example of this shift, with indicators pointing to a potential new direct airline announcement soon. Recent data shows a 40% increase in new passengers flying into Manchester, alongside a 15% rise in overall air travel from India to the UK, underscoring growing demand beyond London. “This momentum is being further strengthened by Indian domestic carriers such as IndiGo, which are now effectively feeding tier-2 and tier-3 city traffic into international gateways, helping unlock new source markets and drive first-time travel to regional UK destinations,” High Commissioner added. 

On market access, Cameron emphasised that the UK’s visa regime continues to support growth. “We make it really easy,” she said, pointing to flexible processing timelines, priority options and multi-month visas. “There’s no cap—demand is the driver,” she added, noting that Indians rank among the largest applicants across visa categories. 

Visitor spend from India to reach £1.6 billion by 2030

Echoing this optimism, Gary Robson, Deputy Director-Europe, GCC and India, Visit Britain, underlined the economic weight of tourism in the UK and India’s rising contribution to that story. “Tourism to the UK is worth £147 billion, accounting for 5% of its GDP,” Robson said, calling it serious business with wide-ranging job creation across regions. 

Robson noted that India is fast becoming a high-value market, not just in terms of arrivals but spending. “Visitor spend from India will cross £1 billion by 2026 and is projected to reach £1.6 billion by 2030, representing nearly 74% growth,” he reiterated, adding that Indian travellers are staying longer and spending more on premium and experiential offerings.

Importantly, the profile of the Indian traveller is also evolving. “There is no average Indian visitor,” he observed. “Indian travellers want special, meaningful experiences—something different that they can remember and share. More than half of Indian travellers now spend nights outside London and we want to see that grow further,” he said, pointing to strong demand across bespoke experiences.  

On surging segments, while visiting friends and relatives (VFR) remains a cornerstone of the market, Robson highlighted growing traction in premium leisure, business travel and destination weddings. Business travel, in particular, is increasingly blending with leisure, as travellers extend work trips into family holidays and regional exploration. 

Robson also acknowledged India’s evolution into a high-value, longer-stay market, with rising interest in luxury, shopping and seamless payment options. Discussions around UPI acceptance in the UK were described as a potential “game changer” for Indian travellers, though formal announcements are awaited, he said. 

India strategy remains firmly B2B-led

When asked about the Visit Britain engagement strategies with the travel trade fraternity, Robson told T3 that the UK’s India strategy remains firmly B2B-led, with growing attention on tier-2 and tier-3 Indian cities beyond Delhi and Mumbai, including Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. While current engagement is concentrated in major metros, he confirmed that Visit Britain is actively tracking regional potential and will expand activity beyond the top cities based on value and impact.

He also highlighted that Visit Britain’s role is to equip Indian tour operators with tools, including itineraries, experience-led ideas and UK trade connections, to curate more immersive, experience-driven packages as Indian travellers move beyond traditional sightseeing. He said Visit Britain maintains regular dialogue with the travel trade and visa teams, feeding industry feedback to UK authorities. 

Besides, Robson and the High Commissioner, Ritu Varma, Country Manager, India, Visit Britain and Shuja Bin Mehdi, Senior Manager, Industry Engagement & Partnerships-India, Visit Britain were also present during the engagement.