Karnataka is witnessing a major surge in summer travel in 2025, with tourism activity rising sharply across key destinations. According to data from the Karnataka Tourism Department, the state recorded a 38% increase in domestic tourist footfall between March and early April compared to the same period last year.
Popular locations like Coorg, Chikmagalur, Gokarna, Hampi, and Mysuru have seen strong growth in bookings and visitor numbers. In Coorg alone, hotel occupancy crossed 92% during the first two weeks of April, while Chikmagalur followed closely at 89%. The warm weather and long weekends have contributed to the higher numbers.
Travel Trends Driving the Surge
- Train and Bus Bookings: Indian Railways reported a 34% jump in bookings to stations like Mysuru, Hubballi, and Hospet. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has added over 180 special summer buses on popular routes from Bangalore to tourist hotspots.
- Flight Traffic: Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport reported a 29% rise in domestic tourist traffic, especially to and from Goa, Mangaluru, and Hubballi sectors.
- Online Searches and Bookings: Travel portals like MakeMyTrip and Goibibo noted a 42% rise in Karnataka destination searches from travelers based in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
Where Are Tourists Going?
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top 5 summer destinations in Karnataka (March–April 2025 data):
| Destination | YoY Growth in Tourists |
|---|---|
| Coorg | 41% |
| Chikmagalur | 38% |
| Gokarna | 35% |
| Hampi | 33% |
| Mysuru | 30% |
What’s Fueling the Travel Boom
Experts point to multiple reasons for the sharp increase:
- Work-from-anywhere flexibility has encouraged more weekday trips.
- Aggressive marketing by Karnataka Tourism across digital channels.
- Improved road connectivity to hill stations and coastal regions.
- A visible shift toward short-distance, experience-driven travel.
Looking Ahead
With the upcoming summer holidays in May and more school vacations around the corner, tourism stakeholders expect another 20–25% rise in travel bookings. The state is also planning to launch a “Summer in Karnataka” campaign to further promote offbeat and eco-friendly destinations.
Karnataka’s 2025 summer travel boom is shaping up to be one of its strongest in recent years, giving a much-needed push to the hospitality and transport sectors.
