Page 43 - The Indian EYE 103026

TRAVEL & TOURISM OCTOBER 30, 2026 | The Indian Eye 43

Lonely Planet Names Bangkok, Phuket

and Tokyo Lead
Gujarat Among 25 Best Indian Travel

Places to Visit in 2027 Searches Ahead of
Festive Season

ravel guide publisher Lonely Planet has named angkok, Phuket and Tokyo
Gujarat among the 25 best places to visit in 2027, have emerged as the most-
Tplacing the Indian state alongside destinations such Bsearched international destina-
as Japan’s Okinawa, Italy’s Veneto region, Kenya’s Tsavo tions among Indian travellers ahead
national parks and Vietnam’s Da Nang in its annual Best of the festive season, while Goa, Puri
in Travel list. and Udaipur lead domestic holiday
The selection highlights destinations across the world preferences, according to a report by
for their cultural heritage, natural landscapes, local expe- digital travel platform Agoda. The
riences and distinctive attractions. The recommendations findings point to growing interest in
are based on the on-the-ground experiences of Lonely international city breaks, beach holi-
Planet’s writers, editors and contributors, offering travel- days, cultural experiences and domes-
lers ideas for planning trips in the coming year. tic leisure escapes during the Octo-
Gujarat’s inclusion puts the state in the global spot- ber-November travel period.
light for its diverse tourism offerings, which range from The report is based on accommo-
historic sites and traditional crafts to wildlife, coastal land- dation searches conducted between
scapes and the Rann of Kutch. The state is also known for August 1 and September 30, 2026, for
the Statue of Unity, the heritage city of Ahmedabad and stays between October 15 and No-
the Gir National Park, home to Asiatic lions. the Veneto region of Italy also feature. vember 30. The period coincides with
The 25 destinations span several continents and in- The list reflects a broad approach to travel, combin- major festivals, including Durga Puja,
clude Québec and Prince Edward Island in Canada, New ing established tourism destinations with places that offer Dussehra and Diwali, when public
Mexico and Maryland in the United States, and Šibenik in opportunities to explore regional culture, landscapes and holidays and long weekends encour-
Croatia. Other selections include Montserrat in the Carib- local communities. From wildlife experiences and moun- age people to plan short getaways.
bean, Bariloche in Argentina, Rabat in Morocco, Oman tain scenery to historic cities and island escapes, the selec- Among international destina-
and the Tsavo East and West national parks in Kenya. tions cater to varied travel interests. tions, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan
Asia-Pacific destinations on the list include Chengdu Lonely Planet’s annual Best in Travel guide features recorded year-on-year growth of
in China, Okinawa in Japan, Da Nang in Vietnam, Fulid- 25 destinations alongside 25 recommended travel experi- 55%, 86% and 125%, respective-
hoo in the Maldives, New Caledonia, and Dunedin and ences for 2027, providing inspiration for travellers seek- ly, in accommodation searches. Sri
Waitaki in New Zealand. Australia’s Tweed region and ing new places to explore. Lanka witnessed a particularly sharp
increase of nearly 262%, while Hong
Kong recorded growth of 138%.
‘Gym-cations’ gain popularity as travellers tered a 65% rise in accommodation
At the city level, Bangkok regis-

combine fitness with holidays searches, while Phuket recorded a
51% increase. Tokyo saw searches
climb 109%, reflecting growing in-
terest in Japan during the autumn
itness-focused holidays, or and nutritious breakfast options two years. Pilates, yoga and strength season. Vietnam’s island destination
“gym-cations”, are emerging are gaining appeal among travellers training are among the activities at- Phu Quoc also gained traction, with
Fas a travel trend for 2027, with seeking to integrate physical activity tracting travellers who want to con- searches increasing 124%.
younger travellers increasingly choos- into their holidays. tinue their routines while away from Domestically, Goa retained its
ing destinations and hotels that al- Mumbai has emerged as one of home. position as the most-searched desti-
low them to maintain their exercise the leading destinations globally for Fitness events are also becom- nation, with accommodation search-
routines while exploring new places. travellers searching for hotels with ing travel motivators. Athletes are es rising 43% year-on-year. Udaipur
The trend reflects a shift in holiday fitness facilities, alongside Bangkok, increasingly travelling between cit- ranked among the leading choices, re-
preferences, with fitness facilities, nu- New York, Phuket and Seoul. The ies and states to participate in com- cording a 29% increase, as travellers
tritious meals and wellness activities ranking is based on Skyscanner hotel petitions, highlighting how sporting continued to show interest in heritage
becoming important factors in travel searches using the fitness-centre fil- events can influence travel decisions. tourism and leisure stays.
planning. ter between January and June 2026, The growing interest is prompt- Puri in Odisha recorded the
According to Skyscanner’s travel compared with the corresponding ing hotels and holiday providers to sharpest growth among the domestic
trend findings, Gen Z travellers are period in the previous year. rethink their offerings, with wellness destinations highlighted in the report,
particularly drawn to wellness-ori- The trend extends beyond hotel amenities becoming a potential dif- with searches surging 318%. The
ented stays. The concept of gym-cat- gyms to organised sporting events ferentiator in a competitive hospi- coastal city attracts visitors through
ions combines conventional sightsee- and fitness classes. According to tality market. Nutritious dining, ac- its Jagannath Temple and beaches.
ing with activities such as morning ClassPass data cited in travel industry cessible exercise spaces and nearby Hill stations also witnessed increased
runs, Pilates, yoga, strength training coverage, bookings for wellness ses- outdoor activities are increasingly interest, with searches for Ooty rising
and outdoor adventures. Hotels with sions outside users’ home cities have relevant to travellers evaluating ac- 166% and Munnar climbing 107%.
well-equipped gyms, fitness studios more than doubled over the past commodation. Varanasi recorded a 92% increase.

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