The year-end festive spirit is translating into a significant economic boost for Madhya Pradesh's travel and hospitality sector. Hotels operated by MP Tourism are experiencing a powerful surge in reservations, with current occupancy levels strongly indicating a performance that could rival or even surpass the successful holiday period of last year.
Occupancy Figures Point to a Robust Season
Industry officials have revealed encouraging data. After achieving an impressive around 85% occupancy during the year-end vacation period last year, the state-run hotels have already climbed to close to 75% occupancy this December. Notably, this milestone has been reached with two full weeks still remaining in the month, signaling sustained demand.
The booking momentum, especially for the final week of December, suggests that the overall festive performance will be very strong. Ilayaraja T, the Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC), confirmed the optimistic outlook. "We are seeing a clear surge in bookings in the upcoming week, and the last week of December also looks promising," he said. "With advance reservations coming in, we expect to achieve or even surpass last year's occupancy levels."
Heritage, Nature, and Religion Drive Demand
The resurgence is being fueled by diverse tourist interests converging on the state's rich offerings. Officials point to scenic locations, heritage destinations, and religious sites as the primary magnets for visitors. This influx is not only boosting room revenues but also increasing ancillary spending on local transport, food services, and guided tours, spreading economic benefits wider.
A look at specific city occupancies reveals where travelers are heading:
- Pachmarhi: The hill station is leading the charge, currently operating at a high around 84% occupancy.
- Jabalpur and Gwalior: These heritage-rich cities are also filling up fast, with both hovering close to 70%.
- Indore: The commercial hub has recorded steady demand at about 65%, indicating a mix of short-stay and business-leisure (bleisure) travel.
Economic Activity Spreads Across Regions
Industry stakeholders note that destinations offering a blend of natural beauty, historical heritage, and good connectivity are particularly attractive to family travelers and tourist groups. This trend is helping to distribute tourism-led economic activity across different regions of Madhya Pradesh, rather than concentrating it in one area.
Following the front-runners, other key destinations like Khajuraho and Bhopal are also seeing healthy booking trends. The overall picture confirms that robust leisure travel demand is firmly back, setting a positive tone for the state's tourism sector as it heads into the new year.
