No tactics of the Himachal government or the weather there worked on tourists this year as hotels in Shimla recorded a 50-60 per cent occupancy, which is “the lowest in the last 40 years”.
During the last New Year, Shimla recorded over 80 per cent occupancy. Expecting a similar situation, hotel and associated industries were hoping for a ‘white New Year’ but chances of snowfall are not very promising.
The popular joints of Mall Road and the Ridge dove deep into the ocean of tourists attending the winter carnival, that turned the place into a dreamland with lights and cultural activities.
However, Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders Association President MK Seth said, the footfall at these joints did not translate into hotel room occupancy.
Speaking to news agency PTI, he said that the occupancy — 50-60 per cent — this year is lowest in the last 40 years, adding that, even during the Covid-19 Pandemic, the New Year tourist rush was more than this.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had directed authorities to follow ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and make arrangements for tourists to have a smooth and peaceful time there.
On top of allowing 24×7 functioning of food joints and pan shops, Sukhu also directed police to not arrest drunk tourists. The tourists would instead be dropped to their hotels by the cops to ensure that nobody’s New Year celebration is disrupted.
However Seth noted that the unregistered tourism units are taking over the sales of registered hotels, home stays and other accommodations.
He added that unauthorised salesmen “capture” the tourists coming by train and luxury buses and direct them towards unregistered accommodations.
“We are surprised to see such a drop in tourist inflow when all things are favourable. This is the lowest occupancy in my living memory,” said Prince Kukreja, Vice President of the stakeholders association.
Shishu, a local hotelier, said that majority of the tourists prefer isolated stays in the suburbs amidst nature, forest cover and peace. He added that those wanting to plan private parties also go out of the city.
The hotels in the main town, that are normally packed during this time of the year, are not occupied to capacity.
Around 7,600 tourist vehicles came to Shimla via Shoghi barrier on the Shimla-Chandigarh Road between Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon, SP (Shimla) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI.
Tourism stakeholders said that unnecessary publicity on social media and digital channels over traffic jams made tourists change their destination choice.
The local weather department had predicted snowfall and rainfall at isolated places in high-and-mid hill ranges over the weekend as a fresh Western Disturbance laid over the Himalayan region. However, key tourist resorts did not witness any snowfall in the vicinity.
(With PTI inputs)
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