Rain, road blockades hit tourism in Kullu-Manali

The tourism industry in Kullu and Manali is facing one of its worst downturns in recent years after the devastating rainfall in Mandi district on June 30, which claimed 15 lives and left 27 persons missing. The tragedy, combined with frequent landslides on the Chandigarh-Manali highway, has brought tourism activity in the region to a standstill.

According to local hoteliers, the tourist footfall in Manali has dropped drastically since the June 30 cloudbursts and flashfloods. “These days, it feels like the tourism industry is at a dead end. Hardly any tourist is arriving and hotel occupancy is alarmingly low,” says Manu Sharma, a hotelier in Manali. He adds that long traffic disruptions caused by landslides on the key highway have discouraged travellers from visiting tourist spots.

The stretch of the Chandigarh-Manali highway between Mandi and Kullu has been particularly problematic, with landslides frequently blocking traffic. The road serves as a critical lifeline for the region’s tourism-dependent economy. Regular disruption of traffic on this road has resulted in large-scale cancellation of hotel bookings and travel plans.

Budhi Prakash Thakur, chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Travel Agents Association, says, “Tourism has been badly impacted. The news of the rain disaster and highway blockade has led to mass cancellations. As tourist presence is minimal, the industry is suffering badly.”

Anup Thakur, president of the Kullu-Manali Paryatan Vikas Mandal, and Gajender Thakur, former president of the Manali Hoteliers Association, say, “Manali itself is safe, but the connectivity issue and constant rain alerts from the Meteorological Department have discouraged tourists from coming here.”

Despite the grim situation, tourism stakeholders still remain hopeful. They believe that once the monsoon season ends, the tourists’ confidence will return, bringing much-needed relief to the struggling hospitality sector. At present, hotel room occupancy in Manali is reported to be below 15 per cent, a stark contrast to the usual bustling tourist season.