Himachal Pradesh Witnesses Heavy Tourist Influx

With major parts of India currently crying over heat strokes and heat waves, it does not come as a surprise that many have put ‘Hills are calling and I must go’ as their WhatsApp statuses. However, at least to the people of Himachal Pradesh, what does come as a surprise is just how many tourists are flocking to the hilly paradise.

The Surge in Tourists

Himachal Pradesh, particularly its popular destinations like Shimla, Manali, Kasauli, Kinnaur etc., is seeing a giant surge in the number of incoming tourists. Because of school vacations and the summer season, Himachal Pradesh always witnesses a large number of crowd during this time of the year. However, what the place is witnessing currently seems set to break all previous records. Many hotels in the area have announced a 100% occupancy rate, with the state’s narrow hilly roads now basking in traffic at par with Delhi, Bengaluru, or Mumbai.

Shimla, one of the most popular areas in the state, has been witnessing hour-long traffic jams, impacting the smooth operations of the businesses in the area as well as the vacation plans of the tourists. McLeondganj, on June 8, 2024, reported a wait of hours for tourists to just enter the suburb. Dharamshala, too, seems run down with tourists who are there to beat the heat.

Business Owners Speak

Ashwani Bamba, president, Dharamshala Hotel Association, told Hindustan Times that the area has witnessed an increase from 50-70% from the last week of May to 90% this week. “The tourist influx is increasing now as there are summer holidays in the neighbouring states. After the third week of May, when elections were over in some states, occupancy had increased to around 50-70% but now it stands at 89-90% on weekends.”

Shedding light on the situation, Anup Thakur, president, Kullu-Manali Paryatan Vikas Mandal, told HT, “As the plains are witnessing scorching heat, the people are rushing towards hills. Recent snowfall in areas like Rohtang has also attracted tourists amid the hot summer. Hotel occupancy is now around 90% which was 70% last month.”

Despite all the troubles, many tourists are still making their way to the mountains to escape the heat.