Winter tourism hit hard in state

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 19

With snow eluding Shimla and other high hills, the winter tourism has been hit hard. During December, the state remained in the election mode and the tourist flow was less except the year-end. It had plummeted to the lowest level in January.

The occupancy in hotels has come down to less than 20 per cent and the tourist rush is not seen even during the weekends as tourists are preferring other places. “Last year, Shimla witnessed a heavy snowfall in the second week of January and the occupancy in the hotels was nearly 100 per cent but this year, it dipped to less than 20 per cent, said president, Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association, Shimla, MK Seth.

Driving on the Parwanoo-Solan National Highway had become a nightmare for commuters due to the ongoing work on the four-laning project and tourists were not inclined to visit Shimla, affecting the weekend tourism, he added.

“It is a tiring drive from Chandigarh to Shimla taking more than five hours due to obstruction on the road and next time I will think twice before going to Shimla”, said Surinder Singh, a tourist from Chandigarh .

The busy Mall Road, which used to hum with hundreds of tourists strolling around, presents a deserted look in the evening while the local people come to the Mall Road and Ridge for basking in the sun. There is no business and shopkeepers are forced to sell the woollens at heavy discounts fearing that the stocks will go waste once the winter is over.

The business community suffered badly due to demonetisation last year but the situation is worst this time as there are no tourists and even a large number of local people have shifted to villages and plain areas during winter vacations, said Shimla Beopar Mandal president Inderjeet Singh, adding that the sales had dropped by 30 per cent as compared to last year.

Local eating joints, including small dhabas, and roadside traders used to do brisk business but this year the season is dull affecting the business of locals, Singh said.

The small traders are feeling the pinch more as their bank credit limit has exhausted due to fall in sales as they are unable to clear the overdraft.

Flow of tourists lowest in January

During December, the state remained in the election mode and the flow of tourists was less except the year end. It had plummeted to the lowest level in January.Driving on the Parwanoo-Solan National Highway has become a nightmare for commuters due to the ongoing work on the four-laning project and tourists were not inclined to visit Shimla, affecting the weekend tourism.