After monsoon havoc, tourists return to Kullu-Manali as fresh snow, restored roads rebuild travel confidence

Official tourism data for 2025 show that the region received 20,48,584 domestic and 7,923 foreign tourists in the first nine months of the year.

After one of the harshest monsoon seasons in recent memory left roads battered and visitor numbers severely depleted across Mandi and Kullu, tourism stakeholders in the Kullu-Manali circuit are preparing for an emphatic winter revival.

Months of landslides, road blockages and travel disruptions had triggered one of the weakest tourist seasons in years, but the return of snow and improved connectivity is now fuelling cautious optimism, The Tribune reported.

Official tourism data for 2025 show that the region received 20,48,584 domestic and 7,923 foreign tourists in the first nine months of the year. The opening quarter performed steadily — with January (2,85,266 Indians; 689 foreigners), February (2,37,272; 773) and March (2,65,388; 831) maintaining healthy footfall. Tourist activity rose further during April and May, which drew 3,17,840 and 3,37,181 Indian visitors respectively, signalling a robust pre-summer trend.

June delivered the year’s biggest spike with 4,92,533 domestic travellers, traditionally marking the pre-monsoon rush. But that momentum collapsed once the rains struck.

July saw numbers plummet to 72,670 domestic tourists, before falling even more sharply in August to 28,196. September brought the lowest inflow of 2025 so far, with only 12,238 Indian tourists venturing into the valley. According to local operators cited by The Tribune, the unprecedented road damage, relentless rainfall and safety fears were the primary reasons behind the dramatic slide.

Now, as early winter sets in and fresh snowfall graces the higher reaches, signs of revival are already visible. Hoteliers across Manali say weekend occupancy has crossed the 50 per cent mark, an early indication that visitors are regaining confidence.

Adventure operators too are preparing ski slopes, snow trails and cold-weather activity circuits in anticipation of the Christmas–New Year rush — a period that typically determines the financial trajectory of the season.

Anup Thakur, president of the Kullu-Manali Paryatan Vikas Mandal, was quoted as saying that the improved condition of the Chandigarh–Manali highway was restoring travellers’ confidence. He noted that local businesses — including hotels and taxi operators — were preparing for increased demand by offering winter packages, skiing and snowboarding activities and promotional discounts aimed at drawing back hesitant visitors.

Stakeholders told The Tribune that the recent spell of stable weather has been crucial in restoring trust among tourists who had been deterred by images of damaged mountain roads throughout the monsoon. Many believe that if this stability continues, the coming weeks could help recoup part of the heavy losses incurred between July and September.

Tourism experts say the next phase will hinge on two crucial factors: sustained road connectivity and favourable weather conditions. If both hold steady, Kullu-Manali could experience a winter surge strong enough to offset much of the monsoon-induced downturn.

For a region where tourism remains the backbone of the local economy, industry leaders hope this season will not just revive footfall, but also restore livelihoods strained during months of disruption.