Shimla sees lowest New Year occupancy in 40 years

Shimla, January 1: Shimla, a popular tourist destination, experienced a notable setback in tourist footfall during the New Year's festivities, recording an occupancy rate of 50-60 percent – marking the lowest in the last 40 years. Despite the anticipation of snowfall during the weekend and the Chief Minister's directive to adopt a more lenient approach towards inebriated revellers, Shimla's appeal failed to captivate tourists compared to the previous year, which boasted an occupancy rate exceeding 80 percent.

Although the Mall Road and The Ridge witnessed a bustling atmosphere due to the winter carnival, which transformed the area into a vibrant fair adorned with lights and cultural events, this surge in foot traffic did not translate into increased hotel room bookings. 

Hiamchal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasised a hospitality-driven approach, urging the police to embody the principle of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (Guest is God) and ensure smooth traffic flow across districts. Additionally, he permitted food establishments and pan shops to operate 24x7 and instructed the police not to arrest inebriated tourists, but to assist them to their accommodations to preserve their New Year celebrations.

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The burgeoning presence of unregistered tourism units has encroached upon the sales of licenced hotels, homestays, and other authorised accommodations, said a local hotelier. He further lamented that travellers arriving by train and luxury buses often fall prey to intermediaries who steer them towards unregistered lodgings.

The preference for secluded accommodations nestled amidst forests and tranquility, particularly for private parties, has drawn tourists away from the city centre, said another hotelier. Even the typically bustling hotels in the main town failed to reach full capacity during this period.

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Approximately 7,600 tourist vehicles from other states entered Shimla via Shoghi barrier on the Shimla-Chandigarh Road between Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon, informed SP Shimla Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi. Stakeholders attributed the diversion of tourists to other destinations to adverse publicity on social media and certain electronic platforms highlighting traffic congestion issues in Shimla.

While the local Meteorological Office had anticipated snowfall and rainfall in select hilly areas owing to a fresh Western Disturbance, no such weather conditions materialised in the prominent tourist spots.

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