Once considered an off-peak season, the monsoon is now captivating Indian travellers who are eagerly planning getaways to coincide with the rains and long weekends in August and September. Monsoon tourism is redefining the traditional travel calendar, transforming the rainy season into a prime time for adventure and exploration.
According to Adara, a RateGain company, Coorg in Karnataka leads the pack with a staggering 1910% year-on-year growth in hotel bookings for domestic tourism. Kerala’s Varkala follows with a 400% increase, while the ever-popular Goa sees a 366% rise in visitors. Velankanni in Tamil Nadu and Jodhpur in Rajasthan also emerge as top choices, with 200% and 179% growth in bookings, respectively. These regions are experiencing increased tourism due to their natural beauty, cultural richness, improved accessibility by rail, road, and air, and effective marketing strategies.
Internationally, cities such as Baku in Azerbaijan (399%), Mississauga (392%) and Markham in Canada (298%), Denpasar in Bali (155%), and San Francisco in the USA (106%) are leading the trend. Other popular international destinations include Tokyo, various cities in Canada, Germany, and Australia. This trend can be attributed to corporate offsites contributing to bleisure travel, combining business travel with leisure activities, as well as the start of new educational sessions.
| Destination | Y-o-Y Growth in Hotel Bookings | Destination | Y-o-Y Growth in Hotel Bookings | |
| Madikeri (Coorg), Karnataka | 1910% | Baku, Azerbaijan | 399% | |
| Varkala, Kerala | 400% | Mississauga, Canada | 392% | |
| Goa | 366% | Markham, Canada | 298% | |
| Velankanni, Tamil Nadu | 200% | Denpasar, Bali | 155% | |
| Jodhpur, Rajasthan | 179% | San Francisco, USA | 106% | |
| Yercaud, Tamil Nadu | 100% | Tokyo, Japan | 35% | |
| Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu | 95% | Toronto, Canada | 33% | |
| Kochi, Kerala | 66% | Munich, Germany | 33% | |
| Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu | 56% | Sydney, Australia | 28% | |
| Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu | 50% | Vancouver, Canada | 25% |
*Travel dates: 1st July to 30th September | Booking period: 1st Jan to 15th June 2024