(Witnesses 25% increase in demand for Monsoon travel)
- Uptick in outdoor/nature-led experiences: hiking, bike trips, rafting, waterfall rappelling/trekking
- Indian’s maximizing on off-season rates and monsoon discounts
- Demand trend of weekend-extended weekend/ mini-cations
- Key segments: Young India’s millennials & GenZ, working professionals, multigenerational families
- Spiritual tourism/pilgrimage continue to be in demand
TTT NEWS NETWORK
MUMBAI, 10 JULY 2024:
Indian consumers are displaying sustained interest in travel post the traditional peak summer season. With the onset of the monsoons, ushering in pleasant weather and nature at its best, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company and its Group Company, SOTC Travel’s reports an increase in demand for monsoon travel – with a growth of 25% compared to last year.
Monsoon being a traditional low travel season, demand vs supply works well to the consumer’s advantage: with special deals/discounts offered by airlines and hotels creating strong inspiration for “travel savers”. Thomas Cook India and SOTC have also announced value-options that make Monsoon travel a truly attractive value proposition for Indians.
With the rains transforming arid landscapes into lush green locales, rivulets, and waterfalls, the Companies’ trends reveal a growing interest in nature-forward experiences, such as nature trails and photography tours to Uttarakhand’s Valley of Flowers, Maharashtra’s Khaas-Pathar Valley. Kerala has emerged a favourite with its hill retreats of Munnar and Vagamon, pristine backwaters of Kumarakom, forests of Thekkady and the Silent Valley. Outdoor experiences like trekking and hiking in Tawang’s forests & lakes (Arunachal Pradesh), the magical root bridges in Meghalaya’s Cherrapunjee, the thermal Tiger Spring of Mahabaleshwar, Jog Falls in Karnataka are also seeing demand.
The season is seeing uptick in unique stays in tea/coffee plantations in places such as Ooty, Coorg and Coonoor and Yercaud.
Key Highlights:
- Destinations: Domestic and short haul demand uptick of 22% and 25% respectively
- Popular destinations: Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh, Andamans, Kerala, Rajasthan, Goa, Karnataka, North East
- Indian subcontinent: Sri Lanka and Bhutan
- Demand for Spiritual/Pilgrimage tours: Jyotirlinga. Varanasi, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwara, Dwarka, Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Rameswaram; Ramayan Trail in Sri Lanka
- Customer segments driving demand: Working professionals (20%), Young Indian’s millennials and GenZ (25%) and multigenerational families (18%)
- Average holiday duration: 3-5 days for shorter stays/mini-cations
- Unique destinations: Indian’s are displaying high interest to unique monsoon destinations like Ooty, Coorg, Wayanad, Coonoor and Munnar; Western Ghats and coastal belt
- Experience-led activities: trekking, hiking, river rafting, waterfall repelling, biking in Rishikesh, body surfing in Kerala & Karnataka, zipling in Davki, whale watching in Sri Lanka
- Wildlife & Safari tours: Jawai Dam and Desert national park in Rajasthan, Nagarhole and Bandipur national parks in Karnataka; Sunderbans in West Bengal
- Regional/State festivals: boat race in Kerala, Puri Rath Yatra in Odisha, Kandy Perahera festival in Sri Lanka, France day in Puducherry
- Rise in Wellness tourism: Interest for traditional Ayurveda wellness treatments, retreats and resorts in Kerala
Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Leisure Travel, MICE, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, said, “Monsoon travel is seeing growing popularity from Indians. We are witnessing a 25% increase in demand for this monsoon season compared to last year. Short driveable holidays; weekend & extended weekend getaways are witnessing an uptick from young professionals/millennials & GenZ, couples, families. Our customers are showcasing interest in offbeat & adventure experiences like bike trips, hiking, rafting, waterfall rappelling/trekking. To cater to this demand we have curated a diverse portfolio of over 150 monsoon holidays designed to inspire travel hungry Indians.”
Mr. Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel added, “The monsoon season offers travellers a unique opportunity to explore India’s greener locales, cooler and serene wellness retreats. With our rich heritage of 75 years, we firmly believe that no one understands the Indian traveller better than SOTC. India travellers are maximizing their holidays with off-season rates and incredible monsoon discounts to unique monsoon destinations like Ooty, Coorg, Wayanad, Coonoor and Munnar, Western Ghats. Our Monsoon Holidays are curated for customers who want to experience India’s untapped beauty amidst the rains”.
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