While domestic interest in Puducherry is the main tourism driver, international travellers are starting to notice this destination that is famed for its French colonial heritage
Domestic travel to the Union Territory of Puducherry is climbing steadily. The destination is particularly popular for weekend getaways, with strong demand coming from three major South Indian cities including Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Domestic travellers are also drawn to Puducherry – historically known as Pondicherry – for spiritual tourism, heritage, and weddings.
Subramanian Srinivasan, deputy director, Department of Tourism, Puducherry, told TTG India: “Being home to Sri Aurobindo Ashram, we see a large number of devotees visiting from markets like Odisha, West Bengal and Gujarat. We have been also working closely with event planners to promote Puducherry as a wedding destination. Going forward we are expecting a surge in the number of beach weddings.”
Gaurav Malik, country director for the Indian subcontinent and Indian Ocean Islands at Agoda shared that the majority of domestic searches for Puducherry come from Tamil Nadu followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra, a pattern consistent with last year.
“However, searches from Telangana have shown a significant year-on-year increase between January and June 2025, pointing to a broader geographic spread in domestic interest,” added Malik.
The department of tourism is working towards creating tourist facilities – one such project aims to develop four blue flag beaches in Puducherry and one in Karaikal, one of the districts in the Union Territory. This endeavour is supported by the World Bank Shore programme, which also involves local communities.
“Puducherry has demonstrated a robust growth in domestic travel post-pandemic. Its French colonial essence, seaside calm, and spiritual getaways have made it popular among millennials and wellness seekers alike. Long weekends and workcations have led to increased short-haul traffic from metros such as Chennai and Bengaluru,” observed Louis D’Souza, managing partner, Tamarind Global.
White Town, the historic heart of the city that reflects Puducherry’s French colonial heritage, is certainly a hot draw. However, the carrying capacity of this popular area has come under scrutiny.
Srinivasan highlighted the need to spread tourism flow to suburban areas, and shared that private sector collaboration is sought to develop a vibrant nightlife and calendar of entertainment events that tourists can enjoy elsewhere in Puducherry.
Although tourism demand for Puducherry is predominantly domestic, industry stakeholders say interest from international markets is budding.
D’Souza is noticing more enquiries specifically from France, Sri Lanka, and South-east Asia for heritage and cultural trips to Puducherry.
“There is also growing demand for boutique hotels and experiential stays with clear evidence of a shift towards slow travel. We have seen a growth in MICE and wedding enqueries as well,” added D’Souza.
According to Agoda’s Malik, international interest is growing, with South Korea leading as the top origin market searching for the destination.
“This growth may align with broader regional travel momentum and improving accessibility to South India. Taken together, these trends underscore Puducherry’s growing visibility and appeal within the evolving landscape of Indian tourism, reflecting both local demand and increasing global curiosity,” he added.
The government of Puducherry has set its eyes on business events development, and will erect a 2,500-pax convention centre in Manapet as wel as a five-star beach resort with 150 keys.
This is timely, as Trishal Rao, chief sales officer at SKIL, is seeing an “uptick in corporate and MICE interest, where clients are considering Puducherry for their intimate off-sites and team retreats”.
“With better airlift, curated experiences and sustainability initiatives from the local government, Puducherry is well and truly returning to India’s leisure and lifestyle travel map post-pandemic, both as a destination for domestic travellers and international travellers,” he stated.
Puducherry’s growing demand is matched by a modest increase in room inventory over the past few years, noted Charles VK, senior general manager, sales and distribution, CGH Earth.
“There is still room for more quality accommodation, particularly in the premium segment, to cater to evolving traveller expectations,” he added.
Puducherry’s limited room inventory, especially in the premium and business-class segment, have resulted in inflated prices and limited availability during peak times, shared Rao.
“Our clients have even experienced difficulty securing bookings in Puducherry during shoulder periods. There is an obvious need for targeted investment in hospitality-related infrastructure here. If the balance is struck, Puducherry can be a sustainable, high-value destination for leisure and business tourism,” he added.
