New Delhi: Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram has recorded a sharp rise in popularity among foreign travellers, emerging as the fastest-growing Indian destination for international visitors, according to a report released on Wednesday.
As per data from digital travel platform Agoda, Thiruvananthapuram climbed 11 places in the rankings, moving from 33rd in 2024 to 22nd in 2025 among India’s most visited destinations by overseas tourists. The city’s growing appeal is attributed to its scenic beaches, Ayurvedic wellness centres, heritage landmarks, ancient temples, and convenient access to Kerala’s backwaters and hill stations.
On the domestic travel front, Indore topped the list of trending Indian cities, jumping seven places from 35th in 2024 to 28th in 2025. Its rise has been driven by factors such as cleanliness, a vibrant street-food culture, and bustling heritage markets.
Agoda’s data also highlighted Almaty in Kazakhstan as a new favourite among Indian travellers, with the city surging 12 places to rank 35th. Nestled at the foothills of the Tien Shan mountains, Almaty has gained attention for its dramatic landscapes, adventure tourism opportunities, and rich cultural heritage.
Elsewhere in Asia, emerging destinations include Sapa in Vietnam; the Japanese cities of Okayama, Takamatsu and Matsuyama; and Bandung in Indonesia. The report underlines the rapid growth of tourism in India, which generated foreign exchange earnings of Rs 2.3 lakh crore in 2023 and helped the country climb to eighth place in global tourism rankings.
Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat recently told IANS that India is on track to become one of the world’s top four tourism economies within the next decade, supported by infrastructure development, branding initiatives and heritage revival.
Under schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD, the government has focused on developing themed tourism circuits and upgrading facilities at spiritual and cultural destinations. In addition, 40 new projects worth Rs 3,295 crore have been approved under the SASCI scheme to promote lesser-known locations.
The minister said the government is strengthening connectivity, infrastructure and amenities, upgrading the top 50 tourist destinations in collaboration with states, supporting homestays through Mudra loans, investing in guide training, and reducing GST on hotel tariffs to make travel more affordable.
With inputs from IANS