In a series of recent articles in the Times of India as well as in Hindustan Times, we note that the number of Indians travelling abroad is increasing. Of course, the costs for international travel are a major consideration in deciding to travel, but as our economy in India increases, the number of our countrymen able to travel abroad is increasing every year – and is projected to increase.

A survey recently performed by the website and travel company known as TripAdvisor noted that of the approximately 1,000 people from India who responded to their poll, a full 53% said that they had plans to increase their travel budget this coming year. Yes increase. So what amount does the average person from India budget for travel abroad? Well, the same travel site noted that the average expense for a family from India consisting of three members is expected to increase from Rs 2,17,800 in 2014 to Rs 2,55,100 this year – a 17% growth! These are amazing numbers of expense. Some families in India would never, if rarely be able to afford such an expense – let alone increase that amount for this year just for travel.

The places where most people from India travel abroad are Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand and France. The United States and/or other countries were not among the top ten destinations. Of course, costs are a major factor in deciding where to travel. According to a recent sale held on the travel site Kayak.com, an inexpensive round trip airline ticket to the United States since the price of the airline ticket to the United States alone can be as much as Rs 69,360 – for an inexpensive ticket. Imagine what it would cost for a more expensive  ticket. Still people travel abroad.

It is projected that because of the optimistic environment now in India, one where we feel that things are improving, more and more people from India will travel abroad. To make things even more interesting, in February of this year 2016, the government of Japan announced that it had extended the validity of the Visa-On-Arrival to Japan from three years to five years. What this means is that someone who wishes to travel from India to Japan, now may obtain a visa to do so by simply arriving at the airport in Japan and being granted one that is good for five years – and has multiple entry and exit authority. If any developments tell us that India is moving closer to becoming one of the major international authorities in the world, developments such as these certainly do.

We at IndiaFreelancers.com encourage our programmers and technological experts – as well as all of our freelancers – to consider travel. Consider going to the United States, Australia, and France to meet the employers who hire you. The connections that are possible can only but increase the strength of one’s pool of employers. The wonderful thing is that the income which our programmers make allows them to be among the highest paid people in India – and therefore the ones who can afford to travel abroad.

So please consider travelling abroad. Now that the government of Japan has relaxed the restrictions for travel, this tells us that they – just as the rest of the world is doing – are taking our technical, programming and other skills very seriously and wish to see us come to their countries to share our expertise with them.

Ranjiv P for IndiaFreelancers.com