As the Republic Day weekend approaches, Indian travelers are gearing up for domestic getaways, and leading digital travel platforms, Agoda and Booking.com, unveil the top destinations capturing the nation’s wanderlust.
Goa Tops the List: For the second consecutive year, Goa claims the spotlight as the most searched destination for the Republic Day weekend. Known for its vibrant nightlife and scenic beauty, Goa continues to be a perennial favourite.
Coastal Charms: Puducherry secures the second spot, offering a unique blend of French and Indian cultures, mesmerizing architecture, and stunning beaches. Jaipur, the pink city, claims the third position, captivating travellers with its rich heritage and diverse experiences.
Hill Stations Beckon: Ooty and Mahabaleshwar, showcasing scenic beauty secure spots in the top five, revealing a preference for tranquil hill stations.
Cultural and Culinary Delights: Jaipur stands out for its rich heritage, culinary delights, and shopping experiences, catering to varied traveller preferences.
Krishna Rathi, Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives at Agoda, notes the consistent interest in diverse destinations. He anticipates continued excitement for both domestic and international trips, emphasizing Agoda’s commitment to providing great deals and a seamless travel experience.
Booking.com’s insights reveals that Indian travellers have diverse preferences when it comes to planning their weekend getaways. They are interested in both beach retreats and leisure hotspots, with popular beach destinations being Puducherry, Goa, and Alibaug. Meanwhile, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mahabaleshwar, Ooty, and Lonavala have emerged as favored leisure hotspots within convenient proximity to major cities.
Moreover, Indians are not just limiting their searches to domestic destinations. They are also exploring international hotspots such as Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok, which are closer to home and are piquing traveller interest.
OYO has experienced an astonishing 350 per cent surge in searches for Ayodhya on its platform in the past year. This surge reflects the increasing interest in Ayodhya as a prominent pilgrimage destination. To facilitate seamless operations, OYO has collaborated with the Ayodhya Development Authority and the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.
In addition to hotels and resorts, alternative accommodations such as homestays, guest houses, apartments, and villas are also becoming popular choices among Indian travellers. This reflects a shift in preferences for short breaks and unique experiences.
Finally, the demand for weekend getaways is observed from couples, followed by groups and families, highlighting a diverse range of travellers looking to make the most of their long weekends.
Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia at Booking.com, emphasises the significant opportunity this long weekend presents for the travel and hospitality industry. He notes the rising demand for alternative accommodations and commits to enhancing the traveller experience.
Talking about demand for luxury villas, Devendra Parulekar, Founder of SaffronStays said they have noted considerable interest in premium markets like Alibaug, Pawna, Udaipur, Karjat showing 50 per cent plus growth, with a distinct preference for luxury villas over budget friendly ones.
“This trend is in line with increased spending capacities across the Indian aspirational consumer segment. The opening up of highways and expressways (e.g. Atal Setu) along with increased rollouts of Vande Bharat trains has made weekend travel even more attractive as an option. Winters were delayed and hence impacted demand. The demand will pick up for winter destinations, as weather gets better and winter sets in! We expect a much much better February and March than last year. March has a long weekend, unexpectedly a really long weekend. I also see really high rates and sold out situations in most popular leisure properties in some cities,” he said.
Short haul outbound destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Malaysia are witnessing demand for this extended weekend.
“A noteworthy trend is the unique combinations/inclusions being selected by customers – a spiritual trip to the Golden Temple with a local meal and stay in a farmhouse and food trails; exciting winter experiences and lunch in the midst of an apple orchard in Shimla; biking across rugged terrain spa-wellness. We are witnessing demand for non-standard travel experiences and unconventional options like stays in machans/tree houses overlooking lush green tropical vegetation of Wayanad, Chikmagalur, Munnar, Thekkady; restored heritage fort in Goa, private villas with concierge services and a chef in Alibaug or plantation bungalows amidst rolling tea/coffee estates in Darjeeling, Assam or Coorg,” Rajeev Kale – President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook India said.
As the Republic Day long weekend unfolds, Indians are choosing destinations that offer a mix of cultural, culinary, and local experiences, showcasing a diverse and evolving travel landscape. Whether it’s the coastal charm of Puducherry, the vibrant nightlife of Goa, or the rich heritage of Jaipur, travellers are in for an exciting escape during this extended holiday.
[ad_2]
Source link
While commemorating the World Tourism Day 2023, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, orchestrated the global launch of ‘Travel for LiFE,’ a sectoral program falling under the ambit of Mission LiFE.
Collaborating with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the launch ceremony was held at the newly built Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Tourism, Ajay Bhatt, asserted that Travel for LiFE underlines India’s commitment to the promotion of sustainable tourism, while he reiterated that the recent G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi showcased India’s dedication to global unity and cooperation. These deliberations, he said, resonated with the collective global aspiration for a sustainable future.
“I urge every traveller, every business, and every citizen to adopt this program and pledge to travel responsibly, to respect our environment, and to understand and appreciate the diverse cultures that make our world so beautifully complex. The Travel for LiFE program, which is a part of Mission LiFE, sets out the path to a sustainable planet Earth,” he added.
Additionally, the minister highlighted India’s emergence as a prominent destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism, exemplified by the successful hosting of almost 200 G20 meetings across 60 locations. He also pointed out the world-class MICE facilities like Bharat Mandapam and the newly inaugurated Yashobhoomi convention center in Dwarka, are poised to bring in conference tourism from around the globe.
V. Vidhyavathi, Secretary of Tourism, emphasised that ‘Travel for LiFE’ seeks to encourage tourists to take actions that contribute to environmental conservation, biodiversity preservation, bolstering local economies, and safeguarding the socio-cultural heritage of local communities. It aspires to foster responsible resource utilisation among stakeholders across the tourism value chain.
In addition to the Travel for LiFE program launch, the event celebrated the announcement of the ‘Best Tourism Villages 2023.’ The Ministry of Tourism had initiated the ‘Best Tourism Village Competition‘ on February 16 to recognise and promote exemplary tourism villages across India. This initiative was accompanied by the unveiling of a new website dedicated to rural tourism promotion.
As the world gears up to celebrate World Tourism Day, the global tourism sector is poised for a grand convergence, uniting under the theme of “Tourism and Green Investments”. The industry stakeholders and experts we reached out to, advocated the need to have a collective and coordinated approach involving governments, businesses, and stakeholders, besides, the need to have more local community involvement.
The evaluation process for the Best Tourism Villages considered various parameters in line with UNWTO competition guidelines, encompassing Cultural and Natural Resources, Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources, Economic Sustainability, Social Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, Tourism Development, and Value Chain Integration. A total of 35 Rural Tourism Villages were recognised, distributed across Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories, with 5, 10, and 20 villages in each, respectively.
These distinguished villages were chosen from over 750 entries originating from 315 districts across 31 states and Union territories. A few recipients included Dawar village in Jammu and Kashmir, Sarmoli in Uttarakhand, Reiek in Mizoram, Kanthalloor in Kerala, Madla and Khokhara in Madhya Pradesh, Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh, Sarodhadadar in Chhattisgarh, Kalpeni in Lakshadweep, Hemis in Ladakh, Pembarthy in Telangana, Cotigao in Goa, and Chitkul in Himachal Pradesh.
The Ministry of Tourism also announced the forthcoming edition of the Best Tourism Village Competition in 2024, underscoring its commitment to fostering rural tourism development.
In a video message, the ministry also articulated its vision to support and promote these rural tourism villages with a dual purpose: alleviating the strain faced by overcrowded cities due to excessive tourism and improving the quality of life for rural communities.
Further, a national competition titled Tourism for Tomorrow, focusing on case studies and best practices, was also inaugurated during the event, in line with the priorities outlined in the Goa Roadmap. These include encompassing Green Tourism, Digitalisation, Skills Development, Support for Tourism Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), and Destination Management.
Additionally, the event featured the launch of several initiatives, including the Design Edible Cutlery Competition, Yuva Tourism Club Merchandise, and the Swachhata Campaign, spanning 108 tourism sites across India.
The Design challenge competition has been initiated for the Institutes of Hotel Management that are affiliated with the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT), operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The competition aims to foster the creation of inventive solutions within the realm of edible cutlery and reduce the usage of plastics.
[ad_2]
Source link
India’s tangible heritage isn’t just a static display of the past, it’s a dynamic force driving the future of tourism. The country’s emphasis on preserving its tangible heritage goes hand in hand with responsible tourism. By promoting off-the-beaten-path destinations, we can ensure more equitable tourism growth, alleviating pressure on more popular sites and distributing economic benefits more widely.
[ad_2]
Source link ]]>