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Thiruvananthapuram Soars as India's Fastest-Growing Spot for Foreign Tourists

Thiruvananthapuram has surged to become India's fastest-growing destination for international visitors, climbing 11 places in the rankings due to its beaches, Ayurveda, and heritage. Domestically, Indore leads as the most trending city, celebrated for its cleanliness and street food. The report also highlights Almaty, Kazakhstan, as a rapidly growing favorite for outbound Indian tourists. With significant government investment and initiatives, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat projects India will rank among the world's top four tourism economies within a decade.

Key Points: Thiruvananthapuram: Fastest-Growing Indian Destination for Foreigners

  • Thiruvananthapuram jumps 11 places for int'l tourists
  • Indore tops domestic travel trends
  • Almaty emerges as new favorite for Indians
  • India targets top 4 global tourism economy
2 min read

Thiruvananthapuram becomes fastest‑growing Indian destination for foreign travellers

Kerala's capital jumps 11 spots in tourist rankings. Discover why Indore trends domestically and India aims for top 4 global tourism economy.

Thiruvananthapuram becomes fastest‑growing Indian destination for foreign travellers
"We're improving connectivity, infrastructure, and amenities... investing in guide training, and recently cut GST on hotel tariffs - Gajendra Singh Shekhawat"

New Delhi, Jan 7

Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram has jumped 11 places amidst popular tourist destinations in India, rising from 33rd in 2024 to 22nd in 2025, becoming the fastest‑growing Indian city among international visitors, a report said on Wednesday.

The report from digital travel platform Agoda said that the coastal capital's appeal stems from its scenic beaches, Ayurvedic wellness retreats, heritage sites, centuries-old temples and easy access to Kerala's backwaters and hill stations.

Indore topped domestic trends, climbing seven places from 35th in 2024 to 28th in 2025 to become India's most trending city for local travellers, driven by its cleanliness, street‑food scene and heritage bazaars.

The digital travel platform's data showed Almaty in Kazakhstan, as a sudden new favourite pick for Indian tourists, jumping 12 places to 35th. The city at the foot of majestic Tien Shan mountains holds breathtaking mountain vistas, adventure tourism and unique rich culture.

Across Asia, other rising destinations include Vietnam's Sapa, Okayama, Takamatsu and Matsuyama in Japan along with Indonesia's Bandung. Tourism in India is fast emerging as one of the country's most dynamic economic engines, with Rs 2.3 lakh crore in foreign exchange earnings in 2023 and a jump to 8th place in global tourism rankings.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat earlier said in an exclusive conversation with IANS that India will rank among the world's top four tourism economies within the next decade buoyed by infrastructure upgrades to brand partnerships and heritage revival.

Under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD, the government developed themed circuits and modern facilities at spiritual and cultural sites. The government also approved 40 new projects worth Rs 3,295 crore to develop lesser-known destinations under the SASCI scheme.

"We're improving connectivity, infrastructure, and amenities through Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and upgrading the top 50 tourist destinations in partnership with states. We're also backing homestays through Mudra loans, investing in guide training, and recently cut GST on hotel tariffs to make travel more affordable," the minister said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great to see Indore getting love from domestic travelers! The cleanliness and food are top-notch. But I hope this growth in tourism doesn't lead to overcrowding and price hikes that push out local residents. Sustainable tourism is key.
A
Aman W
Almaty as a new favorite for Indians is interesting! Shows how travel preferences are changing. Good to have more visa-friendly options. The government's focus on infrastructure through Swadesh Darshan is a step in the right direction, but implementation on the ground needs to be faster.
S
Sarah B
Visited Thiruvananthapuram last year and it was magical. The backwaters are so peaceful. Happy to see it getting global attention. Hope the local communities benefit directly from this tourism boom.
V
Vikram M
Top four tourism economies in a decade is an ambitious goal. Reducing GST on hotels is a good move, but we also need better last-mile connectivity to these "lesser-known destinations" and stricter quality control for homestays. The potential is huge.
K
Kavya N
As someone from Kerala, I'm proud but also a bit worried. Our state is beautiful but fragile. I hope this growth is managed carefully to protect our environment and culture. Responsible tourism should be the focus, not just numbers.

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