Hotel demand soars as travellers return

The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, has witnessed a surge in demand this summer, unlike anything it has seen in its over a decade of operation.

- Varuni Khosla

In the peak season of April to June, the hotel has recorded an occupancy rate of 91%, with most days sold out. The resort achieved an average daily room rate of ₹40,000 this summer, surpassing previous records. Families are travelling despite steep airfares, contributing to the exceptional performance, said Vinit Chhabra, the hotel’s general manager.

Long queues of cars and traffic jams on the highways to hill stations have become common, with many families stuck for hours on the roads. This demand surge has been partly fuelled by the preference among Indians for domestic vacations this year.

An increasing number of Indians have favoured domestic vacations due to soaring international airfares and accommodation costs, further fuelling the post-pandemic local travel rebound. In addition, delays in visa approvals for Europe and other Western countries are prompting Indians to opt for local travel or visa-friendly destinations in Southeast Asia.