INDIA, RECHARTED

India's travel landscape is transforming, with emerging destinations reshaping traveller experiences and hospitality investment.

- By DEEPALI NANDWANI

India's travel map is being redrawn, weaving timeless heritage with bold, modern experiences.

Tourism is decentralising from marquee spots to offbeat valleys, secondary cities, and niche pilgrimage and food circuits. Improved infrastructure, rising affluence, campaigns like Dekho Apna Desh, experiential journeys, and remote work are unlocking new frontiers.

"India's tourism landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, with emerging destinations now taking centre-stage," says Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President - Real Estate & Development, IHCL. While metros and leisure staples such as Goa, Kerala, and Rajasthan endure, demand has surged in Tier 2/3 cities (Coimbatore, Ludhiana, Jorhat), spiritual hubs (Vrindavan, Prayagraj, Ujjain, Ayodhya), industrial corridors (Hosur, Sanand, Dholera), and offbeat spots (Sindhudurg, Naldhera, Lataguri, Raichak). IHCL leads with Taj resorts in Lakshadweep's Suheli and Kadmat islands, besides recent luxury launches in Wayanad, Puri, Gangtok, Patna, and Dehradun. IHCL's brandscape caters broadly: Taj anchors luxury in Darjeeling and Rajasthan palaces; Tree of Life and amã Stays & Trails offer boutique homestays for curated experiences, says Venkatesh.

Khushnooma Kapadia, Vice President - Marketing, South Asia, Marriott International, highlights Coorg and Rajasthan/Madhya Pradesh's heritage cities as alternatives to Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur. “Marriott's Series by Marriott partnership adds 100+ midscale/upscale hotels in Tier 2/3 markets,” she says.