Inside the Revival of India-China Travel as Flights Resume and Visas Ease
Photo Credit: Wooden world map showing India and China Pexels / Lara Jameson
Skift Take
2025 may have been marred by several uncertainties when it comes to travel. But it also brought together two Asian travel powerhouses restoring direct flight connectivity after 5 years.
While 2025 remained turbulent for travel across the world, with wars, conflicts, and lowered travel sentiment, it also brought the reinstatement of ties between two massive travel source markets: India and China.
Since the pandemic and the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash, the two countries had strained relations. In the absence of direct air connectivity, travelers between the two nations had to go through costly routes via Bangkok, Hong Kong, or Singapore, often doubling travel times.
After extensive chats and in-principle agreements to reinstate connectivity, India reopened visas for Chinese tourists. China also turned to India to boost inbound tourism amid tariffs from the U.S. It introduced several relaxations in the visa process for Indians, including no mandatory online appointments, quicker processing, and reduced visa fees.
Resumed Air Travel: The air travel between the two countries resumed towards the end of October, with an IndiGo-oper
