Kangra back in business as tourist rush signals strong revival

Tourism in Kangra district has staged a strong post-pandemic comeback, with more than 6 lakh visitors, according to the Tourism Department, arriving during the first six months of 2026. This is the highest footfall recorded for a January-June period since Covid-19 brought the tourism sector to a standstill.

The impressive numbers have brought much-needed cheer to the hospitality industry, which has been grappling with losses caused by disruptions in recent years. The district, with more than 25,000 beds available across hotels and homestays, witnessed a noticeably longer tourist season this year, helping stakeholders recover some of their losses.

The footfall from January to June rose sharply from around 4.7 lakh visitors during the corresponding period in 2025, 4.6 lakh in 2024 and 3.3 lakh in 2023, underlining the steady revival of Kangra as a major tourism destination.

The summer months proved particularly encouraging. May alone saw around 1.25 lakh domestic tourists and more than 3,500 foreign visitors, while June recorded nearly 1.53 lakh domestic arrivals. The sustained flow of tourists brought renewed activity to popular destinations such as Dharamsala, McLeodganj, Palampur and other tourist circuits across the district.

The entire hospitality sector benefited from the increased footfall, with hotels, homestays, restaurants, cafes, taxi operators, guides and other tourism-linked businesses reporting improved activity. The IPL matches at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, followed by the India-Afghanistan ODI, also provided a major boost to tourism.

Kangra tourism got a boost as foreign travel took a hit: Expert

Ashwani Bamba, president of the Hoteliers Association and a tourism expert in Dharamsala, attributed the boom to a combination of geopolitical, economic and weather-related factors. According to him, the actual tourist footfall during the first six months of the year was considerably higher than the officially announced figures, as several accommodation units and smaller establishments were not included in the counting exercise.

Bamba told The Tribune that, “A major factor behind the surge was the diversion of India’s large outbound tourism segment towards domestic destinations following the conflict in West Asia. With memories of the Pahalgam incident still fresh, travellers preferred destinations perceived as safe, peaceful and politically stable. Himachal, with its established tourism infrastructure and relatively easy accessibility, emerged as a natural choice.”

The US-Iran turmoil affecting international air travel routes also encouraged travellers to look for safer and more economical alternatives, he said. Competitive airfares to the region and affordable local transportation further strengthened Himachal’s appeal.

Bamba said the delayed monsoon also worked in favour of the tourism industry. Pleasant weather during what would otherwise have been a rain-affected period encouraged visitors to extend their travel plans and helped sustain footfall.

Kangra also recorded a rise in destination weddings, with Himachal benefiting from its proximity to major cities. The corporate segment, which normally accounts for nearly 30-40 per cent of business for several hotels, also remained strong. The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) segment particularly benefited three- and four-star properties.

Bamba said the segment helped hotels maintain realised tariffs through premium sales rather than relying heavily on discounted rates, thereby improving profitability.

Kailash Thakur, AGM, HPTDC, Palampur-Dharamsala complex, also confirmed a 30-40 per cent increase in occupancy at HPTDC hotels and properties, including Nugal Cafe and Tea Bud Hotel in Palampur, Hotel Bhagsu in McLeodganj and properties at Jwalaji and Chamunda. However, Dhauladhar in Dharamsala recorded the highest occupancy among them.