Monsoon makes a splash this year as flight, bus and hotel bookings pour in

Monsoon driving travel demand

Trade

• Watchlist
• Portfolio
• Message
• Set Alert

 

 

Choose Stock Exchange: BSE LIVE NSE LIVE

26 Aug, 2025 12:21

Volume

Todays L/H

More

×

Once considered off-season, the monsoon has now become peak travel season for those chasing waterfalls, lush landscapes or a hot cuppa at a cozy homestay.

And it is seeing an unexpected surge in demand this year, said Rajnish Kumar, group co-CEO of travel platform ixigo.

He attributed the rising interest for travel during the rainy season to unrest in destinations like Kashmir and broader geopolitical concerns which prompted a section of travellers to postpone their summer holiday plans.

This pent-up demand is now spilling over into the monsoon, with flight bookings rising by 25–30 percent year-on-year to emerging destinations like Port Blair, Tirupati, Udaipur, Coimbatore and Dehradun, he said.

Even bus travel is seeing an uptick. Rohit Sharma, chief operating officer (COO) of AbhiBus, noted a rise in bus bookings to popular monsoon destinations, with places like Bekal in Kasaragod witnessing a 100 percent surge for July 2025 compared to last year. "Destinations such as Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Coimbatore and Wayanad are also seeing strong interest with an average 30 percent year-on-year uptick in bus bookings," he said.

Hotels and homestays are also recording higher bookings during this year's monsoon.

"With the landscape turning a vibrant green and the rivers and waterfalls at their fullest during monsoon, Radisson Blu Karjat has seen a considerable increase in bookings. Additionally, the resort, with its lush green lawns and flora-fauna, turns out to be an eye-catcher for our guests who want to enjoy this weather," said Nikhil Sharma, managing director and COO, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.

Saurabh Gahoi, Senior Vice president of Ramee group of hotels has observed a healthy uptick in monsoon bookings this year compared to the same period last year. "Overall, our hotel bookings have increased by approximately 15 percent, driven largely by domestic leisure travelers seeking quick getaways to hill stations and coastal destinations."

He added that occupancy rates are also trending higher this year. "We’re currently seeing an average occupancy increase of about 15 percent compared to last monsoon. Destinations like Munnar, Udaipur, and Bhuj are witnessing particularly strong demand, fueled by both advance bookings and last-minute weekend travelers eager to experience the monsoon charm."

For luxury rental villa platform SaffronStays, the early arrival of the monsoon this year has accelerated booking patterns, said Devendra Parulekar, its founder. Bookings are 25–30 percent higher compared with the same period last year, he said. "We expect this positive momentum to continue through the rest of the season."

He is seeing a sharp spike in advance reservations, particularly across drive-to villas within two to four hours of Mumbai and Pune. "Guests are actively planning their weekend escapes and longer stays, looking for experiences that celebrate the monsoon—misty hill views, waterfalls nearby, private pools set against green backdrops, or simply the joy of sipping chai in a cozy verandah as it pours."

"Bookings across our Maharashtra homes are up by 13 percent compared to the same period last year," Parulekar said. "Our flagship villas in Lonavala, Dapoli, Pawna and Nashik are in demand on weekends."

Parulekar also noted significant growth in several other key destinations such as Coorg, Karnataka, Uttrakhand, Goa and Kerala.

Fuelling the travel demand are discounts by airlines as well as travel platforms.

IndiGo recently announced its monsoon sale which includes all-inclusive one-way domestic fares starting at just Rs 1,499, and international fares from Rs 4,399. The airline was offering discounts for bookings made from June 24 to June 29 for travel between July 1 and September 21.

Thomas Cook India and SOTC are offering monsoon holiday offers, including discounted deals and special BOGO or buy one, get one free offers on select packages.

"Attractive monsoon sales by airlines and hotels are further fuelling this trend, offering value-driven deals and encouraging travellers to explore off-season getaways. Among international getaways, Vietnam and Thailand have seen a notable rise in interest this monsoon," said ixigo's Kumar.

In India, travellers are opting for hiking in Tawang, biking in Rishikesh, waterfall trekking, rafting, and ziplining in Dawki, pointed out SD Nandakumar, president and country head, holidays and corporate tours, SOTC Travel.

"Monsoon, traditionally considered a low travel season, is gaining momentum due to its compelling value proposition. Travellers are leveraging off-season pricing, together with special deals/discounts from airlines and hotels and fewer crowds to explore India’s scenic beauty," he said.