Fuel flames scorch summer vacation plans, travel sector feels heat

Meenakshi.Sharma@timesofindia.com

Indore: Summer vacations are becoming costlier as repeated fuel price hikes ripple through the travel and hospitality sectors, pushing up expenses for transport, hotels and holiday packages during the peak tourism season. Travel and hospitality stakeholders say the impact is no longer limited to transportation, with hotels too recently raising tariffs due to LPG supply restrictions and higher input costs.

Travel operators said higher diesel and petrol prices are adding pressure on transportation expenses, making holiday packages, taxis, sightseeing and local travel costlier for families already dealing with expensive airfares and seasonal hotel tariffs.

“Summer is usually the busiest season for leisure travel but rising fuel prices are adding another layer of cost pressure. Transportation, local travel and sightseeing expenses are increasing which ultimately affects package pricing and travellers’ budgets,” said Hemendra Singh Jadon, Chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The concern follows cumulative fuel price increases of nearly Rs 4 per litre within a week, intensifying pressure on transportation and tourism networks. Industry stakeholders say tour operators, bus services, taxis and local transport providers -- all crucial to holiday packages -- are being forced to revise prices.

Hospitality operators say hotels are also feeling the strain. Rising costs of LPG, food ingredients, utilities and other operational inputs have prompted several establishments to increase room and service tariffs, adding to the burden on travellers.

The combined rise in transport and accommodation costs is expected to make summer holidays significantly more expensive, particularly for families travelling during school vacations.

Travel operators in Madhya Pradesh say the impact is already visible as tourists head to popular destinations such as Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa, along with leisure destinations within the state.

Taxi operators, too, say mounting fuel and maintenance costs are forcing fare revisions.

“Fuel costs directly impact taxi operations and we have been forced to increase per-kilometre rates by Rs 2 on several routes over the past few days. It becomes difficult to absorb repeated fuel hikes, especially during peak travel periods,” said Ganesh Soni, owner of an Indore-based taxi fleet service.

As travel becomes more expensive, many families are adjusting plans to manage costs. Tour operators say travellers are increasingly choosing shorter vacations, nearby destinations and customised itineraries to stay within budget.

“We are already seeing operating costs rise across transport and travel services. Travellers have become more price-sensitive and are carefully evaluating expenses. Even small cost increases can influence holiday decisions, especially for families travelling during vacation season,” said Papu Patel, a travel operator from Bhopal.