GOA...TOURIST HOTSPOT

Famous for its sunny beaches, churches, museums and a vibrant nightlife, Goa has topped the list of destinations in India where most people want to head to usher in the New Year, according to a report. The report titled 'Top New Year Destinations' by travel portal TripAdvisor, highlights the places where people from India are planning to visit, to welcome 2015. "Getting out of the city to bring in the New Year has been a trend for a long while now. Be it India or abroad, everyone is looking for interesting places to visit. As a large number of Indians get ready to pack their bags and travel to destinations, known, as well as the offbeat, Goa remains a favourite in this year's list," TripAdvisor Country Manager Nikhil Ganju said today. The coastal state is followed by Dubai, Udaipur (Rajasthan), Manali (Himachal Pradesh) and Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), the report said. "What is the most interesting to see is how accommodation preferences have evolved over the years. About 41 per cent travellers prefer to stay in hotels of different kinds, whereas 23 per cent prefer 'bed and breakfast inns' for their New Year holiday," he said. According to the report, experimentative side of Indian travellers is emerging with a significant share (36 per cent) have opted for 'alternate' accommodations like campgrounds, condos, vacation rentals, hostels, villas and even temple lodgings, Ganju added.