Monsoon, Short-Haul Travel Sees 25% Increase Driven By Gen Z, Millennials

Indian travellers are increasingly exploring destinations beyond the traditional peak summer season, driven by millennials and Gen Z. A 25% increase in monsoon travel demand compared to last year has been observed as travellers seek out the pleasant weather and lush landscapes characteristic of this season, according to a report by Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel on Monday.

Despite traditionally being a low travel season, the monsoon’s demand versus supply dynamic benefits consumers, with airlines and hotels offering enticing deals and discounts, appealing particularly to “travel savers” driven by key customer segments: working professionals accounting for 20% of the demand, young Indians, including millennials and Gen Z, contributing 25%, and multigenerational families making up 18%.

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 and Maharashtra’s Khaas-Pathar Valley. Kerala remains a favourite with its hill retreats in Munnar and Vagamon, pristine backwaters in Kumarakom, and the forests of Thekkady and Silent Valley, it said.

Outdoor activities are also experiencing a surge in demand. Trekking and hiking in Tawang’s forests and lakes (Arunachal Pradesh), exploring the magical root bridges in Meghalaya’s Cherrapunji, visiting the thermal Tiger Spring in Mahabaleshwar, and marvelling at Jog Falls in Karnataka are popular among adventure enthusiasts. Unique stays in tea and coffee plantations in destinations like Ooty, Coorg, Coonoor, and Yercaud are gaining popularity, according to the release.

Domestic and short-haul travel demand have seen significant increases of 22% and 25%, respectively. Popular destinations include Kashmir, Ladakh, the Andamans, Kerala, Rajasthan, Goa, Karnataka, and the northeast. Sri Lanka and Bhutan are top choices within the Indian subcontinent, it said.

Spiritual tourism is also on the rise, with pilgrims flocking to destinations like Jyotirlinga, Varanasi, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwara, Dwarka, Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Rameswaram, and the Ramayan Trail in Sri Lanka.

Mini-cations typically last three–five days, with unique monsoon destinations such as Ooty, Coorg, Wayanad, Coonoor, Munnar, the Western Ghats, and the coastal belt proving particularly appealing. Demand for experience-led activities such as trekking, hiking, river rafting, wildlife tours, and regional festivals is robust. Kerala is also witnessing a rise in wellness tourism, it said.