Hotel associations meet CM Sukhu to address declining tourism in Dharamsala

Hotel associations in Dharamsala met with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to express concerns over the decline in tourism in the region. The associations demanded improvements in connectivity and infrastructure to boost tourist footfall.

Sanjeev Gandhi, general secretary of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Smart City Dharamsala, submitted a memorandum to the CM outlining ideas to enhance tourism. One proposal suggested developing a mall road and ridge in Mcleodganj, similar to Shimla’s ridge. This can be achieved by building a concrete slab over the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HPRTC) bus stand, connecting it to the Mcleodganj-Naddi road. The slab would support a food street market, offering tourists a panoramic view of Dharamsala.

The CM appreciated the idea and instructed officials to prepare a project report. Hotel and Restaurant Association of Kangra, led by 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 the Khara Danda road, which is a narrow alternative to reach from the Dharamsala-Kotwali market to Mcleodganj.

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

They also alleged that the work on the Mcleodganj-Bhagsunag and Dharamkot-Naddi roads has been on hold for quite some time, and the departments concerned need to expedite it.

The hotel associations also demanded that Dal Lake of Dharamsala, which has dried up, should be restored by the government. They requested for winter carnival in Mcleodganj, just like the one in Shimla, to attract tourists.

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

The associations thanked the CM for initiating the Gaggal airport expansion project, which is expected to boost tourism in the Kangra region.