Skift Take
Due to close proximity, the nations of Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan witness significant tourism from India. With preferences of Indian travelers changing, boutique properties are reaching out with diverse offerings to attract this tourism segment.
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India is a key source market for the neighboring countries of Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. In February, India was the biggest source market for Nepal, accounting for more than 25% of foreign tourist arrivals in the country.
For Bhutan, Indians accounted for 60% of the total international tourists in the first three months of 2024. The country is expecting 150,000 Indian tourists this year, more than double that of 2023.
In Sri Lanka, the number of tourists from India in the island nation increased by over 100% in January.
What are they doing to keep the growth going? Skift caught up with some boutique hotel brands from these three countries that were in India for a trade event.
Here’s what we learned:
Amrit Rajaratnam, founder of Galle Fort Hotel, Sri Lanka: Indian travelers are seeking authentic, experiential, and unique experiences, Rajaratnam said.
“They seek bespoke luxury experiences and are inclined to invest in shorter, luxe getaways as opposed to longer trips. They want unique, immersive travel experiences, which are family friendly and exclusive.” Rajaratnam added that Indian travelers prefer privacy, often booking entire properties for their group travels.
Khin Omar Win, owner of