Concerned over dipping tourism in Dharamsala, hoteliers meet CM

The hoteliers of Dharamsala met CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu here on Friday evening and expressed concern over declining tourism in the region. The hotel associations demanded improvement in connectivity and other infrastructure in the region to stem the decline in tourist footfall.

General secretary of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Smart City Dharamsala, Sanjeev Gandhi, said they had submitted a memorandum to the CM in which ideas have been given to boost tourism.

The association had suggested that a Mall Road and a Ridge be developed in McLeodganj like the Ridge in Shimla. It could be easily built if concrete slab is laid over the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HPRTC) bus stand in McLeodganj to connect it with Mcleodganj-Naddi road. The slab would act as ride over which a food street market could be built. The tourists can have a panoramic view of Dharamsala from the proposed ridge and it could provide space for tourists to relax, he said.

Sanjeev Gandhi said that the CM appreciated their idea and asked the officials concerned to work out a project report for it.

Members of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Kangra led by their president, Ashwani Bamba, also presented a memorandum to the CM.

Both the associations demanded early completion of various pending roads in the region. They demanded permanent solution to sinking portions of Khara Danda road. For the past two years, traffic on the road has been disrupted due to landslides in monsoon.

The hotel associations also demanded completion of Indrunag-Bangottu-Bhagsunag road. The road has been lying incomplete for the past more than 10 years and the associations demanded that if it is completed, it could ease traffic in Bhagsunag and McLeodganj areas.

The associations also alleged that the work of constructing the McLeodganj-Bhagsunag road has been on hold for quite some time and the department concerned should expedite it. The work on Dharamkot-Naddi road has also been on hold for quite some time and the departments concerned need to expedite it, the hoteliers said.

The hotel associations also demanded from the government that the Dal Lake of Dharamsala, which has dried up, should be restored. Recently, the government had invited experts for suggesting ways to restore it. They also demanded that like Shimla, a winter carnival should also be held in McLeodganj to attract tourists.

They also demanded opening of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) convention centre constructed in Bhagsu hotel in Mcleodganj, installation of smart streetlights on Mcleodganj-Dharamkot road, parking at main square of Dharamkot and conversion of Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge railway line to broad gauge line.

The associations thanked the CM for initiating the expansion of Gaggal airport project which could boost tourism in Kangra region.