Shimla, June 16
Tourist inflow into Himachal Pradesh has surged ahead of the monsoon season, with hotel occupancy in several destinations reaching 80-90 percent on weekends, according to tourism stakeholders.
Popular tourist destinations, including Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Kasauli, and Chail, are witnessing heavy visitor traffic. Tribal regions such as Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur have also recorded increased tourist movement in recent days.
Industry representatives said weekday hotel occupancy is currently ranging between 60 and 70 percent, reflecting a steady rise in tourism activity across the hill state.
Gajender Thakur, president of the Federation of Himachal Hotels and Restaurant Associations, said the tourism sector was witnessing strong footfall from north Indian states as travellers head to the hills before the arrival of the monsoon.
“Our association is making tourists aware that they should respect the local customs of Dev Bhoomi Himachal while enjoying the scenic beauty,” Thakur said.
He also highlighted growing concerns related to traffic congestion during the peak tourist season. According to him, long traffic snarls at major bottlenecks often discourage tourists and can contribute to tensions between visitors and local residents.
Thakur said deploying additional police personnel at congested points could help regulate traffic and improve overall security for tourists and residents alike.
Recent incidents involving altercations between tourists and locals in parts of Himachal Pradesh have also raised concerns among tourism stakeholders. Industry representatives believe smoother traffic management and increased police presence could help prevent such situations.
Despite the large crowds, some local traders said tourist spending has not increased significantly. Ranjit, a salesman at a shop on Shimla’s Mall Road, said there has been a visible rise in footfall and vehicle movement, but sales figures have remained largely unchanged.
“The tourist rush is there, but visitors with higher spending capacity are not coming in large numbers,” he said.
Tourism stakeholders expect visitor numbers to remain high in the coming weeks as temperatures continue to soar across northern India.
