Frequent landslides spell doom for Himachal tourism industry

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 14

Frequent landslides due to fourlaning projects have spelt doom for the tourism industry, especially during the monsoon season from July to September. Monsoon period is considered “lean season” for the tourism industry and there is sudden dip in tourist inflow.

During this period, the tourism industry mainly depends on foreign tourists, who visit the tribal and other high altitude areas for trekking and other adventure activities but increase in frequency of landslides on the national and state highways have become bane of tourists.

Further, the new phenomena of rainfall in tribal areas and cold deserts in Kinnaur and Spiti have also affected the tourism as the tourists who used to make transit halts there are not keen to visit these areas now due to harsh weather conditions and hostile terrain.

The occupancy in hotels during this period used to be around 50 per cent but recurrent landslides due to construction of highways to facilitate smooth traffic have proved counter-productive and the occupancy has plummeted to 20 per cent.

The delay in construction of the Shimla- Parwanoo and Kiratpur-Manali fourlaning projects have hit the tourism industry hard as both the main highways are gateways to major tourist destinations as well as picturesque interior areas of the state. Besides cost and time over-run, these two national highways have become cause of perpetual harassment for commuters and tourists alike.

“Hasty decision of the government to start work on many projects simultaneously is mainly responsible the chaos as awarding of contracts gets delayed”, said a retired Chief Engineer.

Frequent landslides on the Shimla-Parwanoo and Kiratpur-Manali road make the tourists apprehensive about their safety. Hence, they prefer to go to safe tourist destinations, affecting occupancy, says president, Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association M K Seth.

The occupancy during monsoon season was 20 - 25 per cent last year mainly due to weekend tourism but this year the booking till now are between 10 and 20 per cent as the roads have been become landslide prone. To overcome this handicap, the government should think of popularising the railways, which is a safe mode for commuting, he says.

The tourist inflow was down by at least 30 per cent during the monsoon as the tourist are wary of road conditions while planning a trip to Himachal as landslides not only block the roads but even hit vehicles. There have been cases of tourists losing lives in landslides when boulders hit their vehicles. Such incidents are highlighted in media and the state gets negative publicity as unsafe destination.

Other reasons for low tourist inflow 

• Failure of govt to promote tourism in a planned manner
• Shortage of parking spaces
• Increasing traffic congestion
• Growth of illegal guest houses, home stay units

‘Alternative roads needed’

Himachal does not require highways but needs alternative roads which will reduce the cost of land acquired and provide jobs. New roads will play a catalytic role in development. — Sanjay Sood, president, Shimla Hotels and Restaurants Association