Himachal CM directs authorities to strictly enforce Covid norms in view of increased tourist inflow

Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 9

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Concerned over manifold increase in tourist arrival at key hill stations in Himachal after fall in Covid-19 cases, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday directed the deputy commissioners, district police chiefs and chief medical officers to ensure strict implementation of “appropriate Covid behaviour” norms to check spread of the virus.

Presiding over a conference of deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and chief medical officers through video conference to review Covid-19 pandemic situation, Thakur said the state government has allowed free movement of tourists to the state, which has resulted in large number of tourists heading towards the hills.

The state being a major tourist destination, key hill stations are attracting large number of tourists but at the same time, the state government was also ensuring that no tourist would be allowed to flout SOPs, he said and asked the officials to keep strict vigil on tourists not following the protocol.

He also appealed to the tourists to use face masks and hand sanitizers besides strictly following the SOPs issued by the state government from time to time.

Jai Ram Thakur said that since the number of Covid cases were declining at a steady pace, the number of tourists has also increased manifold and the state government was not against this, but the government was ensuring that people must adopt Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.

He said that main tourist destinations like Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala are witnessing surge in tourist inflow and as such the hoteliers, travel agents and owners of the home stays must motivate the tourists staying in their units to maintain Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.

The chief minister asked the police to identify places where the flow of tourists was very high and deploy additional police force to tackle the situation.