Shimla records just over 60% occupancy on New Year's Eve, lowest in 40 years

Shimla: Prediction of weekend snow and the chief minister's directions not to be harsh with drunk revelers on New Year failed to woo tourists to Shimla which recorded over 60 per cent occupancy till Sunday evening, apparently the lowest in the last 40 years.

Last year, Shimla had recorded more than 80 per cent occupancy on New Year.

The hotel and allied industries were pinning hopes on 'white New Year' but chances of snowfall appear bleak.

While, the Mall Road and The Ridge in the heart of the city are abuzz with tourists as winter carnival turned the place into a fair with lights and cultural bonanza being organised but tourist footfall has not converted in room occupancy in hotels, said Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders Association president M K Seth.

The occupancy is about 60 per cent which is the lowest in the last 40 years. He claimed that even during the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourist rush on New Year was more than this time.

He said that the vehicles without prior bookings were being diverted from the Shoghi by the police, not realising that the majority of the tourists on the New Year are impulsive tourists, who had made last-minute plans. This factor also affected the tourist rush to the main city. However, the matter was resolved after he spoke with the SP, Seth added.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had directed to follow the slogan of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' during the festive winter season by catering to tourists' needs and making adequate arrangements and proper plans in all districts for smooth flow of traffic.

Besides allowing food joints and pan shops to remain open 24x7, he had said that drunk tourists would not be arrested, but would be helped by the police instead to return safely back to their hotels to ensure that their New Year experience is not spoiled.

The unregistered tourism units are eating into the sales of registered hotels, home stays and other such accommodations, said Seth adding that the tourists coming by train and luxury buses are 'captured' by touts which take them to unregistered accommodations.

"We are surprised to see such a drop in tourist inflow when all the things are favourable. This is the lowest occupancy in my living memory," said vice president of the association Prince Kukreja, hoping that the occupancy would pick up by late evening.

The state government claimed that lakhs of tourists have visited Himachal Pradesh for the New Year. Talking to reporters here, CM Sukhu said that tourism has bounced back on track with the efforts of the government in three months after the monsoon disaster. "Himachal welcomes tourists," he added.

A large number of tourists prefer isolated accommodations in the suburbs with forest cover and peace, and tourists planning private parties are also going beyond the city, said local hotelier Shishu, adding that even the hotels in the main town, which are normally packed during this time of the year, are not packed to the capacity.

About 9770 tourists vehicles from other states crossed Shoghi barrier on city suburbs on the Shimla-Chandigarh Road from Saturday morning (8 am) to Sunday afternoon (4 pm), said SP Shimla Sanjeev Kumar.

The tourism stakeholders added that adverse publicity on social media and some electronic channels regarding traffic jams diverted tourists to other destinations.

The local Met office had predicted snowfall and rainfall at isolated places in high-and-mid hills on Saturday and Sunday as a fresh Western Disturbance lies over the Himalayan region. However, no snowfall was witnessed in the key tourist resorts.