Onam emerges as Kerala's new travel season as KSRTC trips surge 50%
For Preetha Cheerambathel, 56, a long-cherished wish came true this Onam. She and her husband, Sidharthan, from Punnayurkulam in Thrissur, participated in the famed Vallasadya — the grand ritual feast — at the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple in Pathanamthitta district. The couple availed themselves of a budget pilgrimage package run by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), covering five temples linked to the mythical Pandavas across Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts.
"We had wanted to experience the Vallasadya for years. Last year, we missed out because the nearest KSRTC depot at Ponnani did not operate a trip under the package. When it was announced this time, we grabbed the opportunity and gathered a group of friends and relatives to join us. The experience was thoroughly enjoyable," says Preetha, a regular patron of KSRTC's budget tourism packages.
The cash-strapped KSRTC is tapping into the Onam season, which is fast emerging as a favourite travel time for Keralites. "We have scheduled 350 trips under the Temple package this Onam season — a 50% increase from the previous season. Already, 200 trips have been operated from depots across the State, and services will continue until the Vallasadya concludes next month. Alongside Munnar and Gavi, this has become one of our most popular packages," says R. Udayakumar, Chief Traffic Manager, KSRTC Budget Tourism.
The festive season is also driving demand for overseas packages. "Onam is the second busiest travel season in Kerala after the summer holidays, thanks to school vacations and bonuses for the salaried class. Vietnam has now emerged as one of the most sought-after destinations, overtaking the once-popular Singapore–Malaysia–Thailand circuit, offering rich experiences at affordable rates. Europe too remains a strong draw, as we are handling multiple groups in both circuits," says Benny Panikulangara, a veteran of three decades in the tourism industry.
Clint K. John, who runs a hospitality business and travels frequently during Onam, observes that the festival has transformed what was once a lean period for inbound tourism in Kerala's calendar into a lively season. Kerala's reputation as a literate, safe destination — especially for women — amplified by social media posts from domestic and international visitors, has only added to the appeal, he notes.
K. Rajkumar, CEO of Kerala Travel Mart, sees immense potential in developing Onam into a distinct cultural tourism season. "The tourism department can harness the popularity of boat races, our unique tourism product, by locking the Champions Boat League schedule at least a year in advance. Races are held across 12 venues starting with the Nehru Trophy in Alappuzha and ending with the President's Trophy in Kollam. This would allow tour operators to include the races in brochures for targeted marketing of both national and international tourists," he says.
But not everyone is travelling this Onam. K. Amina, who has been organising women-only tours for nine years, had to cancel plans for the first time. The war in West Asia driving airfares sky-high derailed her Onam itinerary. A Thailand trip had to be scrapped after ticket prices soared to ₹45,000, compared to just over ₹26,000 for Bali last Onam. "Many airlines cancelled group bookings, forcing us to rebook at inflated rates, which wrecked our entire budget," Amina rues.
The contrasting experiences highlight both the opportunities and challenges facing Kerala's travel sector during the festive season. While domestic tourism is booming, international travel remains vulnerable to geopolitical and economic factors. As Onam continues to evolve into a significant travel period, stakeholders are calling for strategic planning to sustain the momentum and make the festival a year-round cultural attraction.
