Agoda’s Krishna Rathi: Lonavala among India’s most searched destination for Europeans in 2024

While the pandemic saw a steep decline in inbound travel, it has shown signs of improvement in 2024. The travel platform AGODA recently published a study on inbound travel to Asia, and India emerged as one of the top contenders. Asia not only ranks as the most popular non-European region, but its popularity is increasing compared to last year, with Agoda noting 52% more accommodation searches by Europeans for travel to Asia. Interestingly, Agoda noted 26% more accommodation searches by Europeans for travel to India. India ranks as the ninth most popular destination for Europeans. Accommodations in India are most searched for by travelers from the United Kingdom, followed by holiday-goers from Germany, Spain, France, and the Netherlands. We spoke to Mr Krishna Rathi, Senior Country Director India Subcontinent, Sri Lanka, and Maldives at Agoda to understand the trend in greater detail.

Has inbound travel to India improved in 2024? Agoda has done a study finding more Europeans have been searching for Asian cities to travel to?

Agoda’s search data shows that interest in travel to India is up compared to last year. In June, Agoda published a report which revealed a 26% increase in searches for travel to India from travelers based in Europe compared to the previous year. The United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, and the Netherlands were the five markets to clock up the most accommodation searches for India on Agoda.

Any cities which are more emerging in popularity, apart from the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur in inbound travel?

The top five inbound cities based on Agoda accommodation searches so far this year are: New Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore.

Travel trends which have emerged in 2024?

A travel trend that is becoming increasingly prominent is event travel where people travel more frequently to see their favourite artists or sporting events. India experienced the benefit of this when it hosted the Cricket World Cup last year. Singapore also saw an uptick in interest when Taylor Swift performed there. Alongside this, the easing of visa restrictions in certain Asian markets has made it easier for people to be more spontaneous in their travel plans as well as providing greater peace of mind when buying event tickets.

Sustainable travel: is it a buzzword, or are people taking more steps towards being conscious of their carbon footprint while travelling?

Environmental impact continues to play a part in people’s decision making process. Agoda released a survey in March this year, asking travelers if they care about sustainability when they travel. 87% of Indian travelers responded that they at least try to choose more sustainable or eco-friendly options when available. Just under a third (31%) stated they always try hard to ensure they’re traveling sustainably and are choosing the most eco-friendly option.

To help hotels introduce planet-friendly practices, Agoda works together with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to promote more sustainable practices. Last year Agoda joined forces with the GSTC and Government of Goa to organize a two-day hotel sustainability training course for hotels in the Goa region.

Which states in India are getting more footfall in terms of luxury tourism?/ How has luxury tourism grown in India as a market in 2024?

New Delhi and Goa lead in terms of 4- or 5-star accommodation being added in the last two years, which is no surprise. However we see an interesting development happening in locations like Varanasi, Jaipur, Udaipur and hill stations, where the supply of luxury accommodation is also increasing.

Are more people trusting websites such as Agoda over individual travel agents for holiday planning and booking?

Agoda is proud to be a trusted name for Indian travelers, with a reputation for providing great rates that enable Indian travelers to see the world for less. Our world-class inventory of over 4.5 million holiday properties in India and the rest of the world will help any travelers with their holiday planning and bookings.

Five common mistakes that everyone makes while travelling?

We unfortunately can’t answer the above two questions at this time. But can say that any traveller would be wise to check out the great rates on Agoda.

How has travel content impacted the travel industry in India?

Agoda works hard to provide its customers with a wealth of high-quality images and content describing both their accommodation and the region they are visiting. This enables people to make informed decisions about how they spend their leisure time in the most enjoyable way. We share Travel Tips with our customers to give them the inside edge on visiting dream destinations. Social media is also playing a key role in helping people to discover new destinations or properties. We see a lot more boutique properties for example becoming popular through content led social media marketing. It enables easy discovery.