MAM
Jaisalmer names the top ten most welcoming cities by Booking.com
Mumbai: Booking.com, connecting travellers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, great things to do and transport options, today revealed the top 10 most welcoming places on Earth according to its 12 Annual Traveller Review Awards.
Based on more than 309 million verified customer reviews and in recognition of delivering consistently excellent service and hospitality, a record 1.48 million Booking.com travel providers across 221 countries and territories are being recognized for their hospitality with the Traveller Review Award 2024, including 13,348 in India. For the seventh year in a row, Italy continued its streak with the highest number of award recipients(181,012) followed by Spain (125,611), France (124,361), Germany (86,910) and the UK (74,754)
Most Welcoming Places on Earth
Identified based on the share of accommodation providers receiving a Traveller Review Award 2024*, this year’s lists of the Most Welcoming Places on Earth showcases a vast range of destinations from across the globe. From enchanting coastal towns to alpine retreats and rustic desert gems, these locations will ignite a sense of wanderlust for the year ahead.
Indian hospitality has made its way to the top 10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth, with Jaisalmer being awarded the ninth most welcoming city on Earth. Known as the ‘Golden City’, Jaisalmer is celebrated for its beautiful architecture and friendly atmosphere. The city’s charm lies in its vibrant culture and friendly locals, making it a top destination that seamlessly blends historical heritage with a welcoming community.
2024’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth:
1 Arraial d’Ajuda, Brazil
2 Ermoupoli, Greece
3 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
4 Daylesford, Australia
5 Grindelwald, Switzerland
6 Moab, United States
7 Uzès, France
8 Mazatlán, Mexico
9 Jaisalmer, India
10 Fujikawaguchiko, Japan
MOST WELCOME ACCOMMODATION TYPES
In recent years, travellers have increasingly been looking for properties that offer an alternative to the traditional hotel experience. Globally, apartments continue to be the most-awarded accommodation type by travellers for the seventh year in a row, receiving over 710,000 awards. For the second year in a row, holiday homes (213,824) have edged out hotels (179,357) for the number two spot, while guest houses (84,715) and B&Bs (71,514) round out the top five most-awarded accommodation types globally. Villas saw the greatest increase in award recipients year over year at 23 per cent, followed by holiday homes (20 per cent) and campsites (14 per cent). Overall, there was a 10 per cent increase in awards granted to vacation rentals and other unique properties that offer an alternative to the traditional hotel experience, demonstrating continued traveller appreciation for a broad range of different kinds of stays and the unique hospitality they can provide.
Booking.com country manager, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia Santosh Kumar said “Jaisalmer making it to the top 10 list of Most Welcoming Cities on Earth is yet another testimony of the incredible Indian hospitality creating unforgettable stays and memorable experiences for all the travellers. In its 12th year now, the Traveller Review Awards are our way of acknowledging and appreciating our partners who have gone above and beyond to create exceptional experiences for guests and play a critical role in our mission of making it easier for everyone to experience the world.”
Brands
Reserve Bank of India cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
Central bank cites compliance failures; curbs tighten as wind-up looms
MUMBAI: India’s banking watchdog delivered its sharpest blow yet to Paytm Payments Bank, cancelling its licence and effectively ending its ability to operate as a bank under the law.
The Reserve Bank of India said the entity can no longer conduct banking business under the Banking Regulation Act, citing concerns that its affairs were not being run in the interest of depositors or the public and that it had failed to meet licence conditions.
The move escalates a crackdown that has been building for months. The bank had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 11, 2022, and later faced restrictions on deposits, credit and wallet top-ups. In January 2024, the central bank ordered it to stop accepting fresh deposits, pointing to persistent non-compliance, including lapses in customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems.
Operationally, the bank is now on a tight leash. It may process withdrawals of existing deposits and facilitate loan referrals through banking correspondents, but it cannot take fresh deposits.
The central bank said it would apply to the high court to wind up the bank.
Paytm sought to ringfence the fallout. In a regulatory filing, it said the licence cancellation applies to Paytm Payments Bank Limited, a separate entity, and should not be attributed to One 97 Communications. It added that there is no exposure or material business arrangement with the bank and that it operates independently, without Paytm’s board or management involvement.
“As informed earlier, Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited) and its services, which have been operating without interruption, will continue to operate uninterrupted. These include the Paytm app, Paytm UPI, Paytm Gold and all other services offered by its subsidiaries and associated companies,” the company said.
The distinction may reassure users of the app ecosystem, but the regulator’s verdict is unequivocal. After years of warnings, caps and curbs, the payments bank experiment at Paytm is being shut down—decisively, and with little room left to manoeuvre.
