State sees 6.2% increase in tourist footfall

Bhanu P Lohumi

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 4

The state has registered an increase of 6.24 per cent in tourist arrivals in 2017 despite the implementation of the GST and economic slowdown. The figure was 5.24 per cent last year.

According to the data compiled by the Tourism Department, as many as 1,96,01,533 tourists, including 4,70,992 foreigners, visited the state in 2017 compared to 1,84,50,520 tourists, including 4,52,770 foreigners, in 2016.

The maximum number of foreign tourists (1,62,168) thronged Shimla, followed by Kangra (1,38,341) and Kullu (1,33,057), while domestic tourists preferred Kullu (37,32,044), followed by Shimla (33,18,829) and Kangra (26,84,948).

Although the growth was steady throughout the year, it was just marginal in November and December due to the Assembly elections and no snowfall during the Christmas and the New Year.

According to information, Kullu and Kangra districts registered a significant increase in tourist arrivals last year while Shimla witnessed a decline.

Tourist prefer to visit Dharamsala as it is the abode of the Dalai Lama. Shimla is famous for British architecture and Kullu-Manali for snow and adventure. A large number of tourists also visit the Rohtang Pass as it is the gateway to Lahaul-Spiti.

Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba are famous among foreign tourists and adventure lovers. With the completion of the Rohtang tunnel by the year-end, the tourist rush would increase tremendously. The state attracts a number of tourists from across the country every year. People from Maharashtra and Gujarat visit the state in April and May while those from North and Central India prefer to visit in June and July.

Tourists from West Bengal come here during ‘puja’ holidays in September and October and a heavy rush is witnessed in Shimla, Manali, Chail and McLeodganj. Honeymooners make a beeline for the state irrespective of seasons or events.

However, the tourism industry said it was not impressed with the statistics collected by the department as no scientific method had been applied while compiling the data. A tourist visiting three or four places in the state is counted three or four times. People running homestays and bed and break fast schemes were not properly accounted for, said president of the Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association MK Seth. He said there was no significant increase in the turnover of hotels despite an increase in the number of tourists.