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DATA & ANALYSIS
26 TRAVELBIZ MONITOR FEBRUARY, 2024
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Agoda Reveals New Horizons List for

India’s Travel Landscape

s the new year kicks off, digital travel platform Agoda, has grew owing to the city being the host of a major sports event, the
revealed the top five emerging destinations in India in its 2023 Cricket World Cup.
“New Horizons List”. The year-on-year search data has Picturesque nature destinations dominate the New Horizons
Ahighlighted the destinations that have marked growth in list, with Kodaikanal experiencing a 35% increase and hill stations
traveller interest. Ahmedabad led the way, followed by Kodaikanal, Mahabaleshwar and Ooty, rising by 22% and 21% respectively.
Mahabaleshwar, Ooty, and Kochi. These cities reflect a growing Kodaikanal’s unspoiled natural beauty and serene ambience has
interest among Indians to experience local culture and heritage and experienced a notable uptick in interest and Mahabaleshwar and
Ooty are also capturing attention for their distinct attractions,
INDIA ranging from Mahabaleshwar’s sweeping hill vistas to Ooty’s
captivating colonial-era ambiance and tea plantations.
Destination % increase in searches At number five on the New Horizons List is Kochi, a vibrant port
city in Kerala, which witnessed a 19% increase in searches. The
Ahmedabad 44% state has been a hotspot for Indians, and Kochi is where history
and modernity seamlessly converge. It remains a favourite among
Kodaikanal 35% travellers for its remarkable Dutch and Portuguese architecture,
food and spice markets, and traditional cultural experiences.

Mahabaleshwar 22% Krishna Rathi, Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives
at Agoda shared, “2023 has proven to be a great year for travel in
Ooty 21% India. Agoda’s Year-on-Year search data highlighted growth across
domestic, inbound, and outbound travel. The New Horizons list
Kochi 19% features quite a few hill stations and some bustling cities with a mix
of food, culture, and interesting activities. As the new year begins,
we are excited to see the trends that will shape the preferences of
are increasingly inclined towards picturesque locales. Indian travellers.”
Ahmedabad, the financial capital of Gujarat, has claimed the Agoda’s platform, which offers over 3.9 million holiday
top spot with a notable 44% increase in searches year-on-year. It properties, along with flights and activities, provides travellers
is home to the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue and also with the convenience of planning and booking a comprehensive
boasts of a rich cultural and culinary heritage. Ahmedabad has adventure. These emerging destinations present an exciting
grown in popularity among Indian travellers, and this year it further opportunity for travellers to discover new facets of India.

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