Weekday Festivals Dampen Maharashtra's Holiday Tourism Spirit
The hospitality sector in Maharashtra is witnessing an unexpected slowdown during what should be its peak season. Private hoteliers across the state are reporting significantly lower bookings for the December-January holiday period, with Christmas falling on a Thursday and New Year's Day on a Wednesday this year.
Vijay Shewakramani, owner of Brightland Resort in Mahabaleshwar, revealed that bookings for the December 24 to January 1 period are "far below" usual levels. "It's less — maybe down by 25-30%. By this time, Christmas and New Year bookings should have been full. The weekday dates have been a big dampener," he stated.
Infrastructure Woes Compound the Problem
The booking decline isn't limited to calendar inconveniences alone. Shewakramani highlighted that terrible road conditions on the main Pune-Mahabaleshwar stretch, currently under repair, have made travel increasingly difficult. "People are taking four to five hours from Pune and even longer from Mumbai. Infrastructure issues are definitely affecting travel," he explained.
Pralhad Rathi, president of Mahabaleshwar Hotels and Restaurants Association, confirmed the trend, noting a 10% drop in enquiries compared to previous seasons. "Mahabaleshwar faced recurring bad road issues for some time, and that affected travel sentiment," Rathi said, though he remained optimistic about a last-minute surge.
MTDC Bucks the Trend with Strong Performance
While private hotels struggle, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) presents a contrasting picture. MTDC managing director Neelesh R Gatne reported that their flagship beach resorts at Ganpatipule and Tarkarli were completely sold out from December 22 to January 1.
"The rooms at Kunkeshwar, Harihareshwar and Velneshwar are fast filling up and should follow the same trend. Our wildlife destination resort at Tadoba is experiencing full house at this time," Gatne announced. He added that all other MTDC resorts at heritage places, lakesides, hill stations, spiritual places and cities were already 60% sold and expected to reach full occupancy.
Chandrashekhar Jaiswal, general manager of MTDC, attributed their success to continuous upgrades and new experiences focused on "Tourist first" approach.
Pune City Hotels Scale Down Celebrations
The booking slump extends to urban centers like Pune, where hotels are reporting muted numbers. Saurabh Choksi, general manager of Sayaji Hotel, confirmed that the festive calendar has worked against the industry this year.
"Christmas and New Year falling on weekdays has been the major reason. Bookings are lower compared to the same period last year. Demand is just not very high," Choksi explained. Consequently, the hotel is scaling down its New Year's Eve plans, hosting only a small event for about 100-150 people.
Amit Sharma, president of Poona Hoteliers Association and General Manager of Amanora Fern Pune, noted a slower start in enquiries for both rooms and New Year's celebrations. "This trend is common when December 31 does not align with a weekend. But based on past patterns, we expect enquiries and bookings to pick up after December 10," Sharma stated.
Industry Remains Hopeful for Last-Minute Surge
Despite the current slowdown, industry representatives maintain cautious optimism. Pradeep Shetty, spokesperson of Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India), expressed confidence in the characteristic last-minute booking surge.
"While the holiday season is yet to peak, we anticipate the characteristic last-minute surge in bookings as we approach the dates. This year, with both Christmas and New Year's Eve falling on weekdays, we expect a slight shift in the planning cycle," Shetty said.
He concluded on a positive note: "Historical trends show that the spirit of celebration ultimately prevails; revellers find ways to accommodate their schedules to celebrate these occasions with friends and family."
