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According to estimates by the Travel Agents’ Federation of India (Tafi) Gujarat, there has been a 35% increase in leisure holiday bookings during the months of July and September compared to last year.
Contrary to a general perception that trekkers and adventure seekers mainly drive monsoon travel, this year family travellers in Gujarat are taking the lead. “Over 70 per cent of the travel inquiries are being generated from the family segment. Family travellers are mainly looking for relaxed beach time, staycations at nearby resorts, exploring the hillside for lush greenery and waterfalls and relishing delicious, local cuisines,” says Divyang Shah, Gujarat-based travel advisor.
Travellers from cities like Surat, Ahmedabad and Baroda are opting for short trips within Gujarat and neighbouring states such as Goa and Maharashtra. Staycations in Daman, Bordi, Saputara are popular as usual. According to trip curator Kajal Patel, People are also making weekend trips to Dandi, the Statue of Unity, Somnath and Nasik.
According to Booking.com’s mid-year travel insights, 86 per cent of Indian travellers are optimistic about their future travel plans within the next 12 months. In the first half of 2023, domestic destinations included New Delhi, Jaipur, Bangalore, Rishikesh, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Manali, and Gurgaon. For international travel, some top choices were Dubai, Bangkok, London, Singapore, among others.
Adventure seekers from Gujarat are finding solace in hill stations such as Mussoorie, Nainital, Shimla and Ladakh. Some of them are taking road trips to Rajasthan to explore places like Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Udaipur. “Those who wish to experience extreme rains, nature and an eco-friendly atmosphere are heading to Assam and Meghalaya. Down south, Munnar, Waynad, Thekkady, Coorg and Kabini are the most popular places to enjoy monsoon. Health tourism in Kerala is expected to reach its peak with the rise in demand for ayurvedic treatments during monsoon,” says trip curator Kajal Patel.
Despite traditionally being considered a lean season for travel, this year’s monsoon season has been exceptional for the travel ecosystem. “We are witnessing a strong, double-digit increase in booking inquiries across our entire portfolio, especially leisure hotels. Domestic tourism continues to drive this demand with destinations like Goa, Dharamshala, Kufri, Alibaug, and Kumbalgarh leading the charts. On average, guests stay for about 2.4 days this season and are ready to spend money on hotels that provide a great experience and good value. Overall, growing demand is reflected in bookings across our network which are encouraging, and we are hopeful that this momentum continues,” Ambreen R, representative of a leading group of hotels.
TRAVELLERS SPEAK
“I usually travel during the monsoons as it is more like the off-season. During this period, the hotel tariffs are low and most places aren’t as crowded. This means you can spend quality time at a destination for cheap.
– Manish Thakkar, avid traveller.
“Monsoon has its own charm. During the rainy season every year, my friends and I often take short road trips to nearby destinations and opt for budget hotels or even camp in the wilderness. Once in a while, we go for day hikes or biking trips. It’s absolutely rejuvenating to spend time amid nature during this time. “
– Ritesh Pandya, biker.
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