In India, there are many beautiful states and cities, and if the pandemic year has taught us anything, it is the value of exploring and finding out more about domestic destinations. In the latter half of 2020 and beginning 2021, Indian travellers visited — and plan to visit — more places within the country than they have ever done before, mainly because of international travel restrictions. And as a result of all these escapades, it has now been revealed that the state of Kerala is the most welcoming region in the county.
As part of its Traveller Review Awards 2021, digital travel company Booking.com revealed the top five most welcoming regions in India, and the state of Kerala topped this list, followed by Rajasthan, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The most welcoming cities in India are (ranked 1 to 5): Palolem (Goa), Agonda (Goa), Mararikulam (Kerala), Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), and Thekkady (Kerala).
Resorts, apartments, or other stays?
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While hotels remained the most-awarded accommodation type in India for 2021, followed by resorts, three out of the five top-awarded accommodation types are: homestays, guesthouses and apartments. Alternative accommodations accounted for 30 per cent of all new bookings in the third quarter of 2020, per the data shared by Booking.com.
In terms of international travel, the top three countries with the most number of winners this year include Italy, followed by Spain and France. India ranked higher than New Zealand, Turkey, Chile, Colombia and China.
The Booking.com Traveller Review Awards 2021 offers insights into traveller preferences throughout the past year, revealing that travellers appreciate staff, cleanliness and location most when reviewing award-winning properties on the platform. With consumers increasingly becoming conscious of health and hygiene, on average, winners had a cleanliness score that was 17 per cent higher than the average cleanliness score for non-winners, suggesting it may be a differentiator for a more-perfect welcome.
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