By: Mohan Lal Verma
The hill state generates about 9 per cent of state Domestic Gross product (GDSP) from tourism alone.
Most of tourists who were lodging and retreating in various hotel units of Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Khajiyar, Dharmshala, Chail, Kufri and Narkanda want to extend their stay here owing to good spell of snowfall this year.
Hundreds of tourists enthralled on the Ridge to see the entertainment event held by state language, art and culture department historic Gaiety theater on historic Ridge.
Tourists had a hard time in Manali as they had to go through the chills of minus three to five degrees along its scope.
The non-ending queues and congestion in the capital town shows that about five to six lakh tourists were staying in the town but most of them returned back the same night.
No incident of vandalism was reported in the town this yearDue to recent Bangluru bomb blasts however the number of tourists were low from last years.
“Meterological Department has forecasted snowfall on high reaches in next couple of days and that would force many enthusiasts to extend their stay and vacations. We are expecting more tourists in coming days in the town as snowfall and winter weather along with sunny days would pull them here. With recent flood in Jammu and Kashmir and flash floods in Uttrakhand the tourist rush has been diverted to Himachal Pradesh” says Mr Ashok Sharma, an online travel agent.
Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) known as Himachal Tourism is known state sector brand in the industry as it has a fleet of twenty buses in the state and chain of about 48 hotel units. Mr. Varun Sharma the tourism promotion officer said We are expecting about one to two lakh tourist per day during this season.
