Tourists flock to Himachal’s mountains to escape scorching heat of plains

A significant number of tourists are heading to the mountains to escape the intense heat in the plains of the country. With summer holidays underway in schools, Himachal Pradesh’s tourist spots are teeming with visitors. Shimla, Manali, Kasauli, Chail, Lahaul Spiti, and Kinnaur are bustling with activity. Additionally, the influx of foreign tourists has also risen. Hotel occupancy rates range between 80 to 90 percent.

Notably, room bookings in Shimla hotels have surged beyond just weekends, with Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) hotels reaching 90 percent occupancy on weekends. HPTDC MD Dr. Rajiv Kumar stated that occupancy in tourism department hotels is between 70 to 80 percent until the end of May and throughout June, rising to 90 percent on weekends.

Dr. Kumar noted that while last year’s disaster deterred tourists, this summer has seen a significant return of visitors. The heat in the plains has driven many to the cooler climate of Himachal Pradesh, attracting both domestic and international tourists.

Recently, Dr. Rajiv Kumar inspected several hotels, highlighting that many state hotels can offer good facilities at low costs to attract more tourists. Renovations are also underway in hotels in Hamirpur and Palampur, with budget provisions allocated for these improvements.