Solang snow gives hoteliers reason to cheer

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Manali, December 23

Hoteliers of Kullu-Manali are expecting good business this Christmas and New Year eve, but at the same time they are uncertain about white Christmas.

For the past few days, the footfall of tourists has increased in Kullu-Manali and occupancy of rooms in hotels has been gone up to 60 per cent.

The hoteliers of Kullu district are hoping that adequate snow in Solang and Gulaba will help attract tourists here. The hoteliers said they were expecting good business this Christmas and New Year eve because in Solang valley and Gulaba, which are just few kilometers away from Manali town, there is sufficient snow for the recreation of tourists here.

These days, the tourists were making beeline for Solang and Gulaba to enjoy the snow activity there.

Gajender Thakur, a hotelier in Kullu district, said, “For the Christmas eve, there is advance booking and we are expecting good business in coming days. In my hotel, the room occupancy has increased up to 50 per cent these days, which was below 30 per cent just one week ago.”

Anup Thakur, President of Hoteliers Association, Kullu-Manali, said, “Dry weather has dismayed hoteliers of the district here as we were expecting white Christmas in Manali. Snowfall is a boon for tourist industry here. However, for the amusement of tourists we have adequate snow available at Solang and Gulaba, where they can enjoy snow activity.”

“There is increase in the footfall of tourists in Kullu district for the past few days and the room occupancy has gone up to 60 per cent. The queries for room booking are pouring in and we hope that the occupancy in hotels of Manali will go up to 80 per cent for Christmas and the New Year eve” he added.

“To attract more tourists here, the hoteliers are offering lucrative family packages for Christmas and New Year and they are getting good response” he remarked.

Hotels offering lucrative packages

• There has been an increase in the footfall of tourists in Kullu district 
• Room occupancy in hotels has gone up to 60 pc
• Tourists making beeline for Solang and Gulaba to enjoy snow activity there
• Hotels are offering lucrative family packages for Christmas and New Year