Tourism industry opposes ban on trekking in Kangra hills

The Kangra district administration has banned trekking on various treks around Dharamsala, including Triund, Kereri and Himani Chamunda. Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa has issued orders with a view to preventing any kind of threat to the lives of trekkers in case sudden snowfall.

However, the hotel industry and people involved in trekking business in the region are opposing the orders. They allege that the ban will hit tourism as thousands of tourists visit the region to enjoy trekking in the hills.

Ashwani Bamba, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Kangra, told The Tribune that there had been no rain or snow in the region for the past few months. “In such a scenario, the district administration should have delayed imposing a ban on trekking activities in places like Triund. The ban on trekking was going to hit tourism in the region, which was already suffering due to low tourist footfall,” he added.

Rashpal Pathania, who takes tourists on treks in the Dhauladhars, says even trekking to the Kareri Lake has been banned though it is a safe trek. He adds that many foreign and domestic tourists come to the Dharamsala region just for trekking in the hills. Instead of following the protocol, the administration should take into consideration the prevailing weather conditions in the hills. The ban will hit the livelihood of locals involved in the tourism industry, he claims.

District Tourism Officer Vinay Dhiman says that despite the ban, the district administration has kept a provision of allowing trekking in the hills after taking permission from the office of the Kangra SP. If a group of people wants to go for trekking in the hills, it can seek permission from the Kangra SP office, he adds.

People associated with the tourism industry say that the official ban restrains tourists, who want to come to the region for trekking. Additionally, the tourists view seeking permission from the police as a cumbersome process and cancel their plans for trekking in the region.

Sanjeev Gandhi, member of the state-level committee for eco-tourism, says that he will take up the issue with the Kangra district administration. The administration should allow trekking in the hills till the upper reaches of the Dhauladhars receive snowfall, he adds.

Kangra SP’s permission must

The official ban discourages tourists, who want to come to the region for trekking, says people associated with tourism industry

Despite the ban, the district administration has kept a provision of allowing trekking in the hills after seeking permission from the Kangra SP office