Delhi's air woes drive demand for hill getaways, resort stays

Hotels and alternative accommodation providers are seeing an uptick in bookings from Delhi as people increasingly seek to escape the city's toxic air.

Luxury villa rental platform StayVista is seeing a 45% year-on-year growth in bookings from Delhi NCR, its founder, Amit Damani, told ET, adding that he expects the uptrend to continue for now.

“For this month, we saw a spike in demand for mountain getaways with cooler weather and cleaner air. Destinations such as Kasauli, Mussoorie and Bhimtal have seen high demand,” he said.

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Those who can work remotely are getting away, said Rajiv Mehra, general secretary, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH). “People are frequenting the hills, and some are even planning overseas trips, knowing that this period sees severe air pollution,” he said. Arindam Bahel, general manager, The Fern Brentwood Resort in Mussoorie said business has picked up over the last few days and guests are citing the toxic air in Delhi and surrounding areas as the reason for seeking a change. "Enquiries usually pick up post Diwali traditionally, but this year, it seems higher than usual," he added.

Sarovar Hotels is seeing 'encouraging' interest across select leisure destinations, particularly from younger travellers who increasingly prefer short getaways to destinations within a comfortable driving distance, said Akshay Thusoo, senior vice president, commercial, at Sarovar Hotels.

At Sukoon Resort & Spa, Dakpathar, occupancies have jumped from 25% in the pre-Diwali period to 100% now. “Most are middle-aged and senior citizens from Delhi NCR. They are happy coming to a cleaner environment,” said director Bani Sharma.

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As per reports, automated monitoring stations in the city are reporting relatively lower pollution levels compared with private air quality monitors, which indicate severe air pollution.

On Tuesday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said its analysers were calibrated to measure particulate matter concentrations only up to 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre and could not display readings beyond it on Diwali night.

Tarun Gulati, director of Ganga Kinare Resorts & Hotels, said he has observed an uptick in enquiries and bookings from Delhi, particularly during the winter months. “Deteriorating air quality could certainly be an additional factor influencing travel decisions. Rishikesh, with its proximity to the Ganges and the Himalayan foothills, offers an appealing alternative for those looking to take a break,” he said.