BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
NASHIK | 28 JUNE 2025
- What are the top monsoon travel trends for 2025 in Tier-II nature destinations like Nashik?
Travel trends for monsoon 2025 are definitely changing within destinations like Nashik, going more towards wellness and immersive experiences. There seems to be a growing trend where travelers want wellness retreats with yoga, meditation, and spa encouragement in the serenity that monsoon brings. Culinary vacations are also on the rise, with Nashik’s vineyards and local cuisine to satisfy the foodie and those who want to experience ‘real’. There is a significant demand for boutique accommodation (like private villas and exclusive resorts) with indoor-outdoor living, which really allows guests to connect to the rainy season. Adventure tourism is flourishing, with wet trekking routes, nature photography, and waterfall visits in areas like Igatpuri and Bhandardara. What is interesting, is what we are calling ‘slow tourism’ – travelers are seeing value in staying in one place for a few days instead of darting from place to place, staying on weekdays to avoid crowds, and focusing on authentic local connections rather than frivolous busy itineraries.
- How are travellers prioritising biodiversity and eco-credentials when choosing holiday stays?
Today’s travelers are assessing lodging decisions based on real environmental impact as opposed to marketing impact. They are actively searching for properties that have sustainability certifications like IGBC rating, Green Key or Rainforest Alliance, which validate a property investing in energy-saving measures, waste reduction, and water conservation. Renewable energy consumption is a big factor; guests preferred lodgings that consume solar and wind renewable energy and have energy-efficient systems.
The involvement of a community is equally important; travelers were keen on lodgings that utilize local food, hire local employees, and contributed to local community projects. Waste reduction methods, primarily eliminating single-use plastics and credible recycling programs, have become the expectations. Water conservation, including low-flow fixtures and rainwater harvesting systems. In short, travelers, particularly younger generations, are choosing stays that align with their values and leave a positive impact on local communities and environments, as opposed to merely providing amenities.
- Why is Nashik shifting from a wine-only destination to a wellness and eco-tourism hotspot?
The change in Nashik certainly means better infrastructure and many more experiences (more than just wine tourism). An upgraded transport system supported by better air connectivity and recently opened to Samrudhi highway has allowed for closer travel times, plus places like Igatpuri and Nashik offer alternatives for tourists escaping from the tourist-infested hill stations of Lonavala – the so-called ‘Queen of the Hills’.
For adventure lovers and trekkers, there are 105 forts in Nashik and the Vipassana meditation centre in Igatpuri attracts visitors looking for mindfulness experiences. Grape County Eco-Resort has more exciting immersive nature-based experiences such as the Keeda Fest, guided trail activities, rainwater harvested lakes for kayaking/ paddling, cycling trails, fishing, star gazing,various hands-on interactions with animals on farms – opportunities to really connect with the local ecosystem. At the same time, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has released Shivar Pheri to study and assess the possibility for village tourism. Weather, proximity to Mumbai, stunning landscapes during monsoons, spirituality, wellness – Nashik is being positioned as a well-rounded experience for domestic and international tourists seeking to reflect on their opportunities for diverse, meaningful experiences.
- How is rewilding barren land becoming a viable tourism and conservation strategy?
Rewilding barren land creates a sustainable model where environmental restoration develops into economic opportunities through tourism that also provides quantifiable conservation outcomes. This attracts ecotourists, wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers and those interested in resting around nature. The revenue generated and used as a percentage of a total revenue stream can be returned to fund the next conservation project.
Rewilding provides tangible impacts through increased biodiversity, greater potential for ecotourism and new options around providing ecosystem services such as increased clean air or clean water. Rewilding programs mobilizes the local community, generating jobs in the tourism and conservation area and providing ownership and stewardship of returned lands or spaces. Rewilding of ecosystems has the potential to mitigate climate change by acting as a carbon sink while also reducing flooding risks.
The model of economic sustainability makes sense – initial investment of restoration attracts wildlife, increased biodiversity attracts eco-tourism, tourism generates revenue stream into funding for conservation, success generates a repeat of the initial investment.
- What do travellers today expect from eco-luxury resorts during the monsoon season?
Eco-luxury travelers in the monsoon season expect quality hospitality that integrates environmental sustainability with a high level of comfort, creating a truly immersive experience with nature. They want nature’s beautiful, alive, rain-fed scenery, with the addition of the pleasant sounds of consistent natural rains washing over the landscape, in addition to different experiences that are unique to monsoons, including swimming in the lakes, waterfall excursions, fishing, monsoon trekking etc. They expect a menu that includes locally sourced, organic, seasonal foods that celebrates regional monsoon harvests; and they expect opportunities to engage with the local community and learn about their heritage. Eco-luxury travelers also want transparency surrounding the establishment’s sustainability practices and opportunities to participate in environmentally friendly practices and activities. Their expectations of staying at a sustainable accommodation are rounded out by smart technologies or apps for guest engagement, integrated education about the ecosystem of the lake, and sustainable practices and choosing to stay again and again at the sustainable accommodation will create a memorable, sentimental monsoon retreat that satisfies their holistic well-being and environmental stewardship.
- How is the hospitality sector in Maharashtra responding to climate and sustainability demands?
Maharashtra’s hospitality sector is taking on several sustainability measures totally influencing energy, water use, waste management, and community engagement. Hotels are increasingly shifting towards renewable energy sources such as solar power, surplus energy generation for the grid in some cases, and energy-efficient technologies such as LED lighting and smart thermostats. Water conservation is taking the forefront with low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, and recycled water infrastructure becoming a norm. While the sector is phasing out single-use plastics, it has adopted robust recycling plans alongside waste-to-energy exploration. Sourcing from within the region provides the reduction of carbon footprints while providing regional suppliers with support and ensuring that tourism benefits are flowing to the locals via various employment and culture preservation projects. Details of sustainability programs in hotels excite guests; too, such initiatives make sharing environmental efforts and conservation participation possibilities a point of communication and engagement. The government of Maharashtra encourages these efforts in various forms: encouraging people to adopt eco-friendliness, integrating EV policies, and providing resources for sustainable implementation. IoT systems, predictive analytics, and smart building controls optimize resource management while enhancing guest experiences. A case in point of how environmental responsibility is intertwined with business success, rendering Maharashtra a forerunner in sustainable tourism.
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