Himachal is bestowed with nature’s beauty

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shivraj sharma chavinder sharma 

Himachal Fails to Exploit Tourism Potential

                  HIMSANSKRITI ANNI

Himachal is bestowed with nature’s beauty but successive state government have failed to tap state’s immense tourism potential that could have generated a large number of opportunities in this sector to usher in economic self reliance. Nothing much has changed in tourism even as number of tourists, domestic and foreign, is increasing every year. This year Himachal is experiencing a good tourist season, especially after last year’s Uttarakhand disaster but the state is unable to hold them beyond two to three days. The reason is simple. Tourists return unsatisfied because of bad condition of roads, long traffic jams, shortage of parking places, lack of entertainment parks and other infra structural facilities. Poor rail and air connectivity has failed to give the required fillip high end tourism. In addition, various projects like ropeways and entertainment parks aimed to promote tourism sector have remained only in files reportedly due to indifferent attitude of various state governments. Experts feel that much needs to be done, including creating infrastructural facilities besides providing facilities to tap state’s tourism potential.

 Uttarakhand’s Loss is Himachal’s Gain

The number of tourists visiting Himachal during the season has surpassed the expectations of those associated with tourism sector. Hotels are recording 85% occupancy rate and major tourist destinations are experiencing chock-o-block situation on weekends. Hotels remain packed on Saturdays and Sundays as tourists are thronging tourist destinations in Himachal to escape the scorching temperature of hot plain areas. Tourists have booked hotels of this hilly state in advance till July 15 next month, reveal office bearers of hotel associations.  There is a heavy rush at all major tourist destinations including Shimla, Manali, McLeodganj and Dalhousie. Neither the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation nor private hotels offer any package for tourists as they remain packed to capacity during peak tourist season.

 920 traffic cops have been deputed for assistance in the name of security of tourists

Attraction of Home Stay Scheme

Tourists are also turning towards rural tourist destinations that have home stay facilities. Himachal has nearly 3,000 hotels and guest houses across the state. Himachal is witnessing a heavy influx of tourists during this season after Uttarakhand disaster last year. Shimla and other tourist destinations in Himachal record a couple of degrees lower temperature as compared to Kashmir valley. In addition, different parts of the country recorded high temperature. As a result, tourists from south- western and northern states have booked Himachal’s hotels till July 15 next month. They are also enjoying adventure sports like paragliding and river rafting at various places.

Green Signal for Ropeway Projects

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has issued directions for completion of various ropeway projects proposed at Bijli Mahadev, Triyund, Naina Devi, Shah Talai and others. These projects were lingering on for the past one decade. Palchan- Kothi Ropeway project, the biggest ropeway project proposed in Kullu has been shelved reportedly after opposition from taxi drivers of the area. Tourism and Forest departments with assistance from ADB will develop amusement and botanical parks in Shimla

Failure to Hold Tourists

Majority of the tourists stay for two to three days on an average in Himachal that has limited air and rail connectivity. As a result, high end tourism is not getting the requisite boost in the state. Tourists visiting under big package tour want such facilities to save their time.

 Garbage at Tourist Places

Tourist also spread garbage at various destinations like Shimla, McLeodganj, Manali, Rohtang, Palchan, Gulaba, Dalhousie, Kasauli, Narkanda and others. However local bodies have started taking care of this aspect following tough posture by the state government on this issue. However, heaps of garbage are common sights at tourist places due to a lack of awareness among tourists entering this hilly state. Knowledgeable persons feel that local bodies should be directed to initiate action against tourist spreading garbage.

Problems Galore in Himachal

The major irritant is bad condition of roads which are not repaired even during the tourist season. Locals commonly fleece tourists at tourist places. No agency takes this aspect seriously even as the administration issues necessary directions in this regard. Tourists often complain against travel agents, guides, vendors selling fast food at tourist places and others.

Parking Woes at All Destinations

Himachal’s all tourist destinations face shortage of parking places and it remains the biggest problem that confronts tourists be it in Shimla, Manali, McLedoganj, Dalhouise or any other places. The limited parking places available in different towns are inadequate to accommodate a large number of tourist vehicles entering Himachal. As a result, long traffic jams are common sights at all places. Long queues of vehicles can be seen almost every day on narrow roads in McLeodganj. Similar is the condition in Dalhousie which has no airport or a railway station nearby. In addition, roads leading to these tourist destinations are also in bad condition that makes journey of tourists more painful.

Parking Woes in Manali

Manali Hoteliers’ Association president Anup Thakur says that hoteliers had to face losses last year as tourist season was not so good after Uttarakhand disaster but this year season has compensated that. Much needs to be done for providing facilities to tourists like parking places and streamlining vehicular movement, he says.

The state has failed to tap the full tourist potential of Kullu- Manali

 -Anup Thakur President Manali Hoteliers’ Association

Problems Compounding

Dharamshala Hoteliers’ Association president Onkar Nehria says that inflow of tourists is more this year as compared to the last year. Meetings are held every year for providing more facilities to tourists in McLeodganj and Dharamshala but nothing happens on ground that further aggravates the problems next year, he adds.

Tourists will not return satisfied from McLeodganj unless the government and administration provides more infrastructural facilities here

 -Onkar Nehria, President Dharamshala Hoteliers’ Association

Hotel owners are fleecing tourists by charging exorbitant rates. In addition, rates of every item are on the higher side at almost all tourist destinations

-Jai Narayan and Monu Tourists from Delhi

There is a lack of safety measures near rivers as tourists tend to enter nullahs and rivers to enjoy cold water with a view to have a feeling of nature

-Rohit, Babita and Vibhuti Tourists from Punjab

Road conditions are bad and parking places are meager at tourist places whereas there is always a danger of parapets on roadside at certain places

-Kiran Sen, Parmarth and Paras Tourists from Haryana