India Summer travel to escape the scorching heat in India has grown by 40 per cent year-on-year this year, driving strong demand for hospitality and travel services. Industry insiders say the general elections have had little impact on the corporate meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) business. Hotel retail business is growing and beach destinations are competing with hill destinations for the preferred holiday destination.
people going to the mountains
“People living in the northern part of the country move to the mountains to escape the heat. There is also movement from cities to nearby tourist or holiday destinations. Industry sources estimate that summer travel will grow by 30 to 40 per cent year-on-year this year,” Hotel Association of India president and Radisson Hotel Group chairman (South Asia) K B Kachru told PTI. MakeMyTrip co-founder and group CEO Rajesh Magow said summer is always a big quarter of the year in terms of travel planning and the sector is booming this year as well.
People going to Himachal, Kashmir and Goa
According to MakeMyTrip’s summer travel trends, the family travel segment has grown by 20 per cent this year compared to summer 2023, while solo travel has grown by 10 per cent year-on-year. Hill stations such as Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Goa, Kerala and the Northeast are leading in terms of most booked holiday destinations this summer. Chander K Balji, chairman and managing director, Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd, said elections may have a marginal impact on corporate and MICE business, but retail business at the group level has grown by 20 per cent year-on-year.
Most popular among Goa
He said hill station hotels, resorts and other holiday destinations are witnessing higher demand. An Oyo spokesperson said beaches accounted for 53 per cent of total holiday bookings, indicating a strong inclination towards coastal destinations even during the summer months. Hill destinations, on the other hand, accounted for 47 per cent. Goa remains the most popular beach destination, followed by Varkala, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Latest Business News