New Delhi: According to Oyo’s ‘Travelopedia 2024’ annual report released on Tuesday, Puri, Varanasi and Haridwar are the most visited spiritual destinations while Hyderabad is the most booked city in India this year. The report explores travel patterns and trends. Travel Tech’s booking data for the entire year.
“In India, religious tourism continued to be the main focus, with Puri, Varanasi, and Haridwar dominating the pilgrimage. However, Deoghar, Palani, and Govardhan experienced substantial growth, indicating a shift towards less explored spiritual destinations….” OYO said.
After Hyderabad, cities like Bengaluru, Delhi and Kolkata rounded out the top spots for bookings, with Uttar Pradesh maintaining its position as the most popular state for travel.
Higher volumes of bookings were reported from Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka, which continue to be major travel contributors. Smaller cities such as Patna, Rajahmundry and Hubli have seen huge growth with bookings increasing by 48 per cent year-on-year.
“Leisure travel also saw growth this year, with Jaipur continuing as a top tourist magnet, followed by perennial favorites Goa, Pondicherry, and Mysore. Interestingly, Mumbai saw a decline in bookings, with travelers preferring nearby leisure destinations.” OYO said.
Srirang Godbole, Global Chief Service Officer, Oyo said, “2024 marked a year of transformation in the global travel landscape. We saw how travelers are embracing flexibility and adaptability, whether for business or leisure. The trend of remote work continues to shape how people travel, fast Demand for both getaways and longer stays has been a significant driver of bookings this year.”
The Fourth of July weekend saw the highest bookings, coinciding with national holidays, while the Christmas season was also notable for a sharp spike in travel.