Northeast Weather Woes Push Tourists to Safer Destinations This Summer
Bad weather in Northeast India forces tourists to cancel bookings and opt for safer travel spots like Goa, Himachal, and Kerala this summer.
Inclement Weather in the Northeast Forces Tourists to Choose Safer Destinations for Summer Vacations
The season for summer vacations across India comes alive and bad weather continued to pelt rain on those northeastern states, making the travel plans of thousands of tourists really difficult now. The worsening climate in the Northeast, according to tourism experts, has stimulated landslides, flooding, and disruption of communication, which have made many cancel their long-hoped vacations and look for destinations that are safer and easier to reach.
With ETV Bharat recently having an interaction with spokespersons from the industry, their concern seemed to center on how tourism in the northeastern region has been quite adversely affected by the prevailing weather situation. The once busy summer getaway has turned into a weather-battered zone, thus causing panic among travelers and huge losses for stakeholders in hospitality.
Rajan Sehgal, Chairman (Public Relations Council) of the Travel Agents Association, said, “It is a fact that the flow of tourists has significantly stopped towards the northeastern region because of the weather conditions. Some tourists are shifting to Kerala, and some are preferring Dalhousie and Solan in Himachal and Goa, respectively.” This diversion in travel interest has emerged as a major trend, especially among families planning safer vacations within their state or nearby regions.
The recent terror attack in Pahalgam had already nudged travelers to explore the serene hills of the Northeast as an alternative. For a brief moment, states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya experienced a surge in bookings, with hotels and resorts fully occupied. However, the continued threat of extreme weather quickly reversed this trend. Tourists who had placed their trust in Northeast India’s lush and peaceful landscape now find themselves canceling reservations and seeking last-minute options elsewhere.
Rajiv Mehra, General Secretary of the Federation of Associations of Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH), clarified that foreign tourist arrivals remain largely unaffected, as international travelers typically schedule their visits in the months of July and August. “If we talk about foreign tourists’ perspective, it has no impact because they visit India in July or August. I hope everything will be normal in the coming months,” he remarked optimistically.
Now that the Northeast has ceased being a destination for most domestic travelers, the tried and trusted all-season favorites such as Goa, Kerala, and parts of Himachal Pradesh have been drawing those southward to their omnipresent lures once again. “People are now searching for vacation spots closer to home, secure, and in their own states,” said Grish Oberoi, Honorary Treasurer of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI). The emphasis on accessibility, safety, and family-friendly locales becomes louder this unpredictable monsoon season.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued warnings, predicting heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. The alerts further solidify concerns among tourists and tour operators, leading to a steep decline in footfall across these northeastern states.
In the end, tourism in the Northeast has come down a staggering notch because of what is happening to the weather. What had once opened up to a large surge of summer escapade tourists has now sealed itself up in a weather-hurt zone, bringing panic to the travelers and causing losses to the stakeholders in hospitality. As per industry experts, this season’s travel choices are dictated by less trends and more practical safety and convenience.
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