As relentless rains continue to batter parts of northern India, hotel owners in hill stations and flood-prone regions are facing unprecedented challenges. The hospitality sector, already recovering from recent economic slowdowns, is now grappling with infrastructure damage, reduced tourist footfall, and rising operational costs.
In many areas, landslides have cut off major roads, while floodwaters have seeped into hotel basements, storage areas, and even guest rooms. The lack of road connectivity and network issues is forcing potential tourists to cancel bookings, leaving hotels half-empty during what was once a thriving monsoon season.
“The damage this monsoon has done is worse than anything we’ve seen in recent years”.
Because of constant rain, our hotel walls are soaked with dampness and moisture. Tourists are avoiding travel due to floods and landslides. It takes 2–3 months just to repair the hotel, and as much time to restore road connectivity. We're constantly facing electricity failures, network outages, and we’ve had to invest in generators just to run basic operations. Despite these challenges, staff salaries must still be paid. For those of us operating near rivers, the threat is even bigger one more flood, and the hotel could be completely destroyed. Dr. Touseef Ahmed, who runs a mid-range hotel in Kashmir Valley, echoed similar concerns
The ongoing rains have disrupted everything from laundry operations to food supply. Our linen can’t dry properly, grains are in short supply due to crop damage, and guests are cancelling last minute. Even when the rain stops, it takes months to bounce back. The overhead costs don’t stop just because the business has. It's becoming harder to survive each year.
Beyond hospitality, the impact of the monsoon has also been felt in local agriculture, with grain shortages affecting hotel kitchens and the overall food supply chain.
Authorities are urging caution and requesting tourists to avoid travel to high-risk zones. Meanwhile, hoteliers are calling for government intervention, including relief packages, tax waivers, and infrastructure investment, to help the sector withstand the growing challenges brought on by climate-related weather extremes.