Tourism crumbles as heavy rains lash Dharamsala, McLeodganj

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 4

Torrential rain lashing Dharamsala, McLeodganj and nearby areas for the past several days have brought the region’s tourism industry to a grinding halt. The unfavourable weather has resulted in widespread hotel cancellations, plummeting hotel bookings and significant economic losses. What was supposed to be the peak tourist season has turned into a period of crisis for businesses. In McLeodganj, hotel occupancy has dipped by nearly 70 per cent, according to the local hotel association. The main reasons are landslides, road blockades and deteriorating weather conditions.

“Tourists from Delhi, Haryana and other states have cancelled their visiting plans. Only a few visitors from nearby areas in Punjab are arriving,” said Rahul Dhiman, president of the Hotel Association, McLeodganj. “Flights at Kangra Airport have also been reduced. The ripple effect has hit every sector, from taxis to eateries.”

Dhiman said that earnings from the summer months sustain tourism businesses during off-seasons. “But this year’s continuous rainfall has dealt a serious blow,” he added.

The bustling markets of Dharamsala and McLeodganj, usually teeming with visitors, wear a deserted look these days. Locals say the footfall has dropped drastically as people were preferring to stay indoors.

“The streets are deserted and business has taken a sharp dip,” said Sandeep Kumar, a food joint supervisor in Dharamsala’s Civil Lines area. “If the trend continues, the entire season could be wiped out”, he said.

The Mata Chamunda Devi Temple, a major pilgrimage spot near Dharamsala, has seen a sharp fall in visitors during the holy month of Sawan. Local traders near the temple say even devotees, who visit the temple, are mostly attending religious langars, offering little business to shops and lodges.