People are traveling for holidays to escape the intense heat in the country, leading to a 40% increase in summer travel compared to previous years. There is high demand for hospitality and travel services during this period. The recent general elections have had a slight effect on corporate meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) business.
According to KB Kachru, Chairman of the Hotel Association of India, individuals from the northern region often head to the mountains to avoid the heat, resulting in an anticipated 30 to 40% rise in summer travel this year. Rajesh Mago, co-founder of Make My Trip, noted that the summer season is crucial for travel planning, with a 20% rise in family travel bookings compared to the previous summer.
Additionally, personal travel has seen an increase of up to 10%. Popular destinations this summer include Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Goa, Kerala, and the North-East, with Goa being the top choice for beach vacations, followed by Varkala, Puducherry, and the Andaman-Nicobar Islands.
Chander K Balji, Chairman of Royal Orchid Hotels, mentioned a slight impact of the elections on corporate and MICE business, but the retail sector has experienced a 20% annual growth at the group level. Beach destinations account for 53% of total holiday bookings, as per an Oyo representative, while hilly areas make up 47% of the bookings.
