Shimla had more than 80% of its capacity over the New Year's holiday last year.
Digital desk: Weekend snow forecasts and the Chief Minister's directions to be lenient with inebriated revelers on New Year's Eve failed to attract tourists to Shimla, which had 50–60% occupancy—"the lowest in the last 40 years"—in the wake of the announcement.
Shimla had more than 80% of its capacity over the New Year's holiday last year. There is very little likelihood of snowfall, which was the hope held by the hotel and related industries for a "white New Year."
According to MK Seth, president of the Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders Association, hotel room occupancy has not increased despite the bustling tourist activity on Mall Road and The Ridge in the city center, which is the result of a winter carnival that has transformed the area into a lit up, cultural extravaganza.
According to him, the occupancy rate of between 50 and 60 percent is the lowest in the last 40 years. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a greater influx of tourists around the New Year's holiday, he told PTI.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Chief Minister, has instructed the police to adhere to "Atithi Devo Bhava," assist tourists, and provide sufficient infrastructure in every area to ensure efficient traffic flow.
In addition to allowing restaurants and bakeries to stay open around the clock, he stated that drunk tourists will not be arrested but rather will be taken to their hotels by police to ensure that their New Year's celebration is not spoiled.
According to Mr. Seth, the sales of registered hotels, homestays, and other lodging establishments are being negatively impacted by unregistered tourism units. He further stated that touts trick customers arriving by luxury bus and train into staying at unregistered establishments.
"We find it surprising that there has been such a decline in the number of visitors when everything is going well. This is the lowest occupancy in my living memory" said the vice president of the association Prince Kukreja, hoping that the occupancy would pick up by late evening.
Even the main town hotels, which are typically full during this time of year, are not fully booked by local hotelier Shishu, who noted that many tourists prefer quiet, secluded lodgings in the suburbs with forest cover. Those organizing private parties are also venturing outside of the city.
SP Shimla Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI today that from Saturday morning (8 am) to Sunday afternoon (12 pm), almost 7,600 tourist cars from neighboring states entered Shimla through the Shoghi barrier on the Shimla-Chandigarh Road.
Travelers were directed to other sites by negative news about traffic bottlenecks on social media and some electronic channels, according to the tourism stakeholders.
The Himalayan region is under a new Western Disturbance, which might bring snowfall and rainfall to isolated areas in the high and mid hills on Saturday and Sunday, according to the local meteorological office. Still, there was no snow in the major resort areas.
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