- Jaisalmer steps into the spotlight as the 9th Most Welcoming City on Earth.
- Most Welcoming Regions on Earth: Perthshire (UK) has topped the list globally as one of the ‘Most Welcoming Regions on Earth’ followed by Penghu (Taiwan) and Boyaca (Colombia)
- Most Welcoming Cities on Earth: Arraial d’Ajuda (Brazil), Ermoupoli (Greece) and Viana do Castelo (Portugal) are named as the top 3 most welcoming cities globally.
- Apartments and holidays homes lead the way for accommodation globally with travellers favouring the home away from home experience.
INDIA, January 30, 2024: Booking.com, a global leader in connecting travellers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, great things to do and transport options, today revealed the top 10 most welcoming places on Earth according to its 12th Annual Traveller Review Awards.
Based on more than 309 million verified customer reviews and in recognition of delivering consistently excellent service and hospitality, a record 1.48 million Booking.com travel providers across 221 countries and territories are being recognized for their hospitality with the Traveller Review Award 2024, including 13,348 in India. For the seventh year in a row, Italy continued its streak with the highest number of award recipients(181,012) followed by Spain (125,611), France (124,361), Germany (86,910) and UK (74,754)
MOST WELCOMING PLACES ON EARTH
Identified based on the share of accommodation providers receiving a Traveller Review Award 2024*, this year’s lists of the Most Welcoming Places on Earth showcase a vast range of destinations from across the globe. From enchanting coastal towns to alpine retreats and rustic desert gems, these locations will ignite a sense of wanderlust for the year ahead.
Indian hospitality has made its way to the top 10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth, with Jaisalmer being awarded the 9th Most Welcoming city on Earth. Known as the ‘Golden City’, Jaisalmer is celebrated for its beautiful architecture and friendly atmosphere. The city’s charm lies in its vibrant culture and friendly locals, making it a top destination that seamlessly blends historical heritage along with a welcoming community.
2024’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth:
- Arraial d’Ajuda, Brazil
- Ermoupoli, Greece
- Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- Daylesford, Australia
- Grindelwald, Switzerland
- Moab, United States
- Uzès, France
- Mazatlán, Mexico
- Jaisalmer, India
- Fujikawaguchiko, Japan
2024’s Most Welcoming Regions on Earth:
- Perthshire, United Kingdom
- Penghu, Taiwan
- Boyacá, Colombia
- Trentino – Alto Adige, Italy
- Los Lagos, Chile
- Erongo, Namibia
- Otago, New Zealand
- Lapland, Finland
- Asturias, Spain
- Friesland, Netherland
MOST WELCOMING ACCOMMODATION TYPES
In recent years, travellers have increasingly been looking for properties that offer an alternative to the traditional hotel experience. Globally, apartments continue to be the most-awarded accommodation type by travellers for the seventh year in a row, receiving over 710,000 awards. For the second year in a row, holiday homes (213,824) have edged out hotels (179,357) for the number two spot, while guest houses (84,715) and B&Bs (71,514) round out the top five most-awarded accommodation types globally. Villas saw the greatest increase in award recipients year over year at 23%, followed by holiday homes (20%) and campsites (14%). Overall, there was a 10% increase in awards granted to vacation rentals and
other unique properties that offer an alternative to the traditional hotel experience, demonstrating continued traveller appreciation for a broad range of different kinds of stays and the unique hospitality they can provide.
In India, Hotels (5270) and Resorts (968), have long been synonymous with traditional accommodation experiences, offering guests a familiar approach to hospitality has received 6986 awards for the segment. Homestays (1911), Apartments (1247), Guest Houses (951) and Holiday Homes, have witnessed a notable surge in popularity in recent years with 6362 awards for the segment.
Santosh Kumar, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com said “Jaisalmer making it to the top 10 list of Most Welcoming Cities on Earth is yet another testimony of the incredible Indian hospitality creating unforgettable stays and memorable experiences for all the travellers. In its 12th year now, the Traveller Review Awards are our way of acknowledging and appreciating our partners who have gone above and beyond to create exceptional experiences for guests and play a critical role in our mission of making it easier for everyone to experience the world.”
