Himachal Pradesh named the most welcoming region in India for 2026: Report

Himachal Pradesh tops India’s most welcoming regions for 2026, with Bir retaining its title as the country’s most welcoming city and hotels and homestays leading traveller favourites.

• Himachal Pradesh named India's Most Welcoming Region for 2026, third consecutive year
• Bir, Himachal Pradesh, named India's Most Welcoming City for second year
• 17,575 travel partners in India win awards, showing hospitality sector growth

Did our AI summary help?

Himachal Pradesh has been named the Most Welcoming Region in India for 2026, marking its third consecutive year at the top, according to the 14th annual Traveller Review Awards by Booking.com. The hill state also secured a place among the Top 10 Most Welcoming Regions on Earth, putting it on the global hospitality map alongside destinations in Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.

Within India, Kerala and Goa followed Himachal Pradesh in second and third place respectively.

In the cities category, Bir (Himachal Pradesh) retained its position as India’s Most Welcoming City for the second year in a row, followed by Mararikulam (Kerala) and Jaisalmer (Rajasthan).

Other Indian regions and cities featured in the rankings include Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Assam, Karnataka and Haryana, reflecting the country’s diverse travel offerings—from deserts and coastlines to hill towns and heritage centres.

The recognition comes as part of the 14th edition of the annual Traveller Review Awards, which are based on more than 370 million verified traveller reviews worldwide. The awards honour accommodation providers, car rental companies and airport transfer partners that consistently deliver strong guest experiences.

Why Himachal Pradesh stood out globally

The Most Welcoming Places on Earth list is determined by the share of accommodation partners in a destination receiving awards. These regions are characterised by personalised service, authentic local experiences, and a strong focus on guest satisfaction.

Himachal Pradesh emerged as one of the standout regions globally, driven by its deep-rooted culture of hospitality, breathtaking Himalayan landscapes, and a wide range of stay options—from cosy mountain homestays and boutique properties to premium luxury retreats.

Often referred to as the “Land of the Gods”, the state continues to impress both international and domestic travellers, with warm host interactions and immersive local experiences across destinations such as Manali, Bir, McLeod Ganj, and Shimla.

World’s most welcoming regions and cities for 2026

Alongside Himachal Pradesh, the Most Welcoming Regions on Earth 2026 list includes destinations such as Hidalgo (Mexico), Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada), Navarra (Spain), Idaho (USA), Sachsen (Germany), Phang Nga (Thailand), Overijssel (Netherlands), Epirus (Greece) and Chiriquí (Panama).

On the city front, Montepulciano (Italy), Magong (Taiwan), San Martín de los Andes (Argentina), Harrogate (UK), Fredericksburg (USA) and Takayama (Japan) were among those recognised for exceptional hospitality.

Hotels still dominate, but homestays continue to shine

The 2026 awards also highlight evolving accommodation preferences among Indian travellers. Hotels remained the most awarded accommodation type, followed by homestays, apartments, resorts and guest houses, pointing to a growing preference for personalised and experience-led stays.

Indian cities with the highest number of award-winning properties included Bengaluru, New Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi and Kochi.

Globally, a record 1.81 million travel partners were recognised this year, a 5% increase compared to 2025. In India alone, 17,575 partners received awards—up from 15,674 last year—underlining the country’s expanding footprint in global travel and hospitality.