Heaven darkens the honor. But what was once a vibrant monsoon tourism season feels like a fading memory for Nithesh, the manager of Travelicy, a restaurant near Edakal Caves in Wayanad. The place now only gets a handful of local customers.
“Before the landslide of Mundakkai-Chooralmala, our annual income was around £ 14 lakh. Now it is only £ 6.5 Lakh. After the landslides, tourist pedestrians have fallen by more than 50 percent,” says Nithesh. The district administration now closes places such as Edakkal Caves, even if it drives. This has paralyzed monsoonism in the region, he says.
Soorjith Radhakrishnan, secretary, Wayanad Tourism Organization, describes how dependent the district is on tourism that contributes more than 25 percent to the local economy. “After the landslide, the economy had fallen for six months and the district loss of more than £ 1,000 crore,” he says.
Joint secretary of the organization, Pradep Murthy, feels the way in which the media and people have depicted the landslide, have influenced tourism in the region – can be greater than the actual landslide. “The Rain and the Subfequent Landslide was a natural disaster. All that happened after that was a man-made disaster. There was huge enthusiasm acrross india to drum it up- to make it sensational news. The landslide hit two villages in Wayanad, Buttoi-ethoed it as wayan-etho-etho-etho-etho-etho-etho-etho-etho-etho-oed-oed-oed-ismed- Disaster.
The organization is now trying to find ways to bring tourists back to the region.
Wayanad is not alone. Entrepreneurs in tourist places in climate -sensitive areas face challenges, because extreme weather conditions influence their activities. Take the northeast, where 1500 tourists are currently stranded due to heavy rainfall, landslides and flash floods in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
“De impact van klimaatverandering wordt duidelijk, met name in ecologisch gevoelige gebieden zoals Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand en Kerala. Plotselinge overstromingen, aardverschuivingen, extreme hitte en ongebruikelijke regenval zijn begonnen met het verstoren van hoteloperaties. In sommige regio’s veroorzaken deze evenementen structurele schade en impact van gastvrijheidsvoorzieningsketens,” MK Shyama Raju, President, Fhrai.
She added that destinations that were previously popular all year round are now witnessing fluctuations in tourist appointments due to climate uncertainties. And these are increasing by the day.
Conscious travelers
According to companies that work in the tourism sector, travelers become more aware of climate change and sustainable tourist practices and this is reflected in the booking patterns. Vishal Suri, Managing Director and CEO, SOTC Travel Ltd, says: “We have noted that destinations affected by extreme weather conditions, rising temperatures, infection of the environment due to climate change, often witnessing a decrease in interest and question of travelers.” But Suri quickly adds that the demand and interest return as soon as safety, sustainable tourist practices and infrastructure confidence are restored.
“Climate change is no longer a future risk, it is a current reality,” says Abraham Alapatt – President & Group Head – Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation – Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. He describes how the company takes strong steps to reduce its own environmental footprint and to help his business travel customers to do the same. “We also promote environmentally friendly accommodations, low environmental impact routes and carbon-conscious travel options.”
Hoteliers such as Sandep Singh, founder of Ruby Stone Hospitality, point to how they are demanding shifts in consumer travel. He says: “We have seen changes in booking patterns according to the weather. Guests are now planning their travels with much more attention for seasonal weather trends. Destinations that were once summer favorites, see fewer bookings during peak heats, while cooler or more climate -stable locations are becoming increasingly popular.”
Following the thought, Pardep Siwach, deputy general director, Mayfair Spring Valley Resort, Guwahati, who says: “Since many parts of the country are confronted with rising temperatures and unpredictable weather, his travelers now look for destinations with pleasant and grazing, with the northeastern, one, with the northeastern, one,” the northeastern, “sockets”. “
Animesh Kumar, commercial head at Ibis & Ibis Styles India, said: “During peak summer months, when heat waves become more intense, as recently recorded in North India – there is often a shift in demand. Travelers increasingly opt for the heavier climates or their travel schedemas.”
Kumar says that in cities experienced plate temperatures, the chain has seen more last-minute changes, shorter stay and an increased interest in properties with strong indoor facilities and easy access to cooler, climate-controlled environments. “
The impact of global warming
Weather experts have serious warnings. KJ Ramesh, former IMD chairman, describes how global warming is destroyed in the tourist hotspots of India. “In hill stations such as Uttarakhand or Himachal, the local warming has already hit 2.5 degrees than the global average-due to reasons such as deforestation and construction activities. The same applies to all Western ghats. With 2.5-degree warming, the atmosphere of such areas can battle almost 20 percent more. Precipitation.
Such as Abhishek Jain, says director – Green Economy and Impact Innovations, Ceew,
He says, “There is potential to create more opportunities for nature-positive tourism. Take Odisha, for example. A CEEW study estimates that sustainable tourism in the State can be worth $580 million by 2030, creating local jobs, driving economic prosperity, while protecting fragile ecosystems. As Part of India’s Broader Transition to a Green Economy, Responsible Scaling Such Models Can Chart India’s Unique Development Pathway, Meeting Our Ambitions on Jobs, Prosperity and Sustainability. “
Manali, another story
In the meantime, Manali, another tourist attraction, seems to benefit from climate change. According to business owners in the region, extended winter caused by climate change brings more tourists to the place. Spend against lineHira Lal Rana, President of Himachal Pradesh Travel Agents Association (Hptaa), said: “The change in weather patterns has no influence on the tourist pedestrians in Kullu-Manali. In fact, the increased connectivity is more tourists at the place. Climate changes are here. Climate changes are here.
But this does not mean that Manali is being saved completely from the climate change claws. Events such as the 2023 floods in the region found many companies and it took them four more five months to recover, he adds.
Following a similar opinion, Gaurav Takur, treasurer, Manali Hoteliers Association, “Manali sees serious changes in the weather patterns. The seasons are changing. Now we are experiencing heavy rainfall in winter and what should be the summer season, is now an increase in winter after the terrorist attack.
However, if this trend continues, this can influence tourism in the area. So the government must take the necessary steps, together with promoting safe tourism in the region, he adds.
Published on June 9, 2025
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