Mumbai,
23
January
2020
|
15:43
Europe/Amsterdam

Kerala named ‘The Most Welcoming Place in India ’ for the second year in a row followed by Goa

Booking.com reveals India’s Top 10 Most Welcoming Places according to its Traveller Review Awards 2020

Booking.com, the platform making it easier for everyone to experience the world, today revealed the top 10 most welcoming places in India according to its Traveller Review Awards 2020. Kerala has topped the list in India once again as one of the ‘Most Welcoming Places’ in India followed by Goa. Agonda, Palolem in Goa and Mararikulam, Varkala, Thekkady and Kollam in Kerala found their place in the top 10 list. The awards further highlighted - homestay, resort, guest house and apartment to be among the most welcoming accommodation types for travellers in India after hotels.

For the eighth annual edition of the awards, nearly one million (986,449) awards were given across 220 countries and territories. Alongside a wide range of accommodation partners, Booking.com also awarded transport partners for the first time ever. In 2020, the countries with the most number of winners include Italy (130,253), Spain (66,755), and France (61,492). India (7,914) ranked ahead of Colombia (7,038), Taiwan (6,976), Belgium (6,499), New Zealand (6,403) and China (5,938). 

“With nearly one million awards given across accommodation and transport providers, in its eighth edition, Traveller Review Awards aims to recognize partners that help us deliver seamless trip experiences. On our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, we are proud to have a record number of our partners across the travel industry receiving great reviews consistently and representing the best in hospitality around the globe.” said, Ritu Mehrotra, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives at Booking.com

2020’s Most Welcoming Places on Earth

India

Globally

Agonda (Goa)

Goreme (Turkey)

Mararikulam (Kerala)

Tatranska Lomnica (Slovakia)

Palolem (Goa)

Phong Nha (Vietnam)

Cherai Beach (Kochi)

Kobarid (Slovenia)

Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh)

Cochem (Germany)

Varkala (Kerala)

Doolin (Ireland)

Thekkady (Kerala)

Taitung City (Taiwan)

Jaisalmer (Rajasthan)

Schenna (Italy)

Coonoor (Tamil Nadu)

Monte Verde (Brazil)

Kollam (Kerala)

Lake Tekapo (New Zealand)

From a rural Irish town that is the gateway to the Aran Islands to a vast network of ancient caves in Southeast Asia, the Most Welcoming Places on Earth* are leading the way in providing amazing experiences for their visitors. Notably for the second year in a row, Goreme (Turkey) retains its place as the Most Welcoming Place on Earth, followed by Tatranska Lomnica (Slovakia), Phong Nha (Vietnam), Kobarid (Slovenia), Cochem (Germany), Doolin (Ireland), Taitung City (Taiwan), Schenna (Italy), Monte Verde (Brazil), and Lake Tekapo (New Zealand) - another 2018 winner.

Most welcoming accommodation type: Alternative accommodation continues to satisfy and exceed guest expectations. Spectacular growth in the number of Awardees continued this year in apartments, with this accommodation type topping the list globally, making up nearly 40% of the award-winning properties in 2020. Similarly, for a third consecutive year, four out of the five top-awarded accommodation types globally are alternative accommodation, with three quarters (75%) of all the winning properties in homes, apartments and other unique places to stay, including everything from boats and igloos to homestays and country houses. Alternative accommodation with homestay, resort, guest house and apartment is also among the most welcoming accommodation types for travellers in India after hotels. 

India

Globally

Hotel 

Apartments 

Homestay

Hotels

Resort

Guest houses 

Guest house

Holiday homes 

Apartment 

B&Bs

For First Time, Transport Providers Honored with Traveller Review Awards - Creating a seamless accommodation experience for travelers has been Booking.com’s core focus for many years, but there is much more to your trip than where you stay. Whether travelers want to explore the country, get out to the beach, move around the city or just get home, Booking.com’s ground transport offering is helping travelers make it happen. That’s why this year, for the first time ever, Booking.com is bringing Traveller Review Awards to car rental and airport taxi partners globally to ensure that travelers can have the best experience possible, whatever their transportation needs may be.

Note to Editors:

To be recognized with an Award, accommodation properties and car rental had to have an average review score of 8.0 (out of 10) or higher based on at least 5 reviews as of 11:59pm (CET) on October 31, 2019. To be recognized for an Award, airport taxis had to have an average review score of 4.5 (out of 5) or higher and completed 2,000 rides as of 11:59pm (CET) on October 31, 2019. Only customers that have actually stayed at an accommodation or rented a car can leave a review of their experience on Booking.com. As these reviews are never edited or adjusted in any way, travelers can reference them for an authentic account of what the real traveler experience is like at every place to stay or with every ground transport provider on Booking.com.

*Destinations were sorted by the total share of Traveller Review Award 2020 winners when compared to the total amount of eligible properties in that city (accommodation only). Cities also had to have an above average amount of winners to be included on this list (90 award recipients or higher) and were curated for geographic spread.

About Booking.com:

Founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch startup to one of the world’s leading digital travel companies. Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Booking.com invests in technology that helps take the friction out of travel. With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, Booking.com seamlessly connects millions of travellers with memorable experiences, convenient transportation options and incredible places to stay - from homes to hotels and much much more. Booking.com also provides a marketplace for entrepreneurs of all sizes in the travel and experiences industries to reach a global audience and grow their businesses. 

Booking.com is available in 43 languages and offers more than 29 million total reported accommodation listings, including more than 6.2 million listings alone of homes, apartments and other unique places to stay. With everything from convenient rides and great places to eat, as well as attractions, tours, events and activities across the globe, no matter where you want to go or what you want to do, Booking.com makes it easy and backs it all up with 24/7 customer support. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, like us on Facebook, and for the latest news, data and insights, please visit our global media room