No tourists beyond Atal Tunnel in Lahaul

Mandi, December 18

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After fresh snowfall at Manali and its nearby places in Kullu district, a large number of tourists thronged the town today. Manali witnessed a sudden surge in the tourist influx, delighting hoteliers.

In the wake of fresh snow at Atal Tunnel on the Manali-Leh highway, the district administration of Lahaul and Spiti has stopped the movement of tourist vehicles towards the Lahaul valley beyond the tunnel.

Manu Sharma, press secretary of the Hoteliers Association, Manali, said “We witnessed a surge in the tourist influx to Manali after fresh snowfall yesterday. In the coming days, we are expecting an increase in the tourist footfall to Kullu-Manali.” Gajender Thakur, chief patron of the association said, “The fresh snow is proving to be a boon to the tourism industry. The room occupancy in hotels has increased up to 70 per cent. We are hopeful that during Christmas and the New Year eve, it will increase up to 90 per cent.”

“There is a manifold rise in online enquiries for rooms. We hope this year, it will be white Christmas. There is sufficient snow in the Solang Valley, Atal Tunnel and Gulaba for the recreation of tourists,” he added. — TNS