Two days of snowfall has covered the famous Auli skiing slope in Joshimath with snow, but unlike last year, the snow has not attracted any tourists to this attraction.
Two days of snowfall in the higher reaches and rains in the lower altitudes has caused a drop in the temperature, but the hopes of winter tourism generating income for those involved in the tourism industry have crashed in this area because even after three rounds of snowfall in the region, tourists have not reached Auli. The campaign undertaken by the State Government to start visiting Uttarakhand again after disaster wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand last year has apparently not been able to convince the tourists to start visiting attractions in the State. Till last year, tourists used to start arriving at Auli following snowfall but this is not the case this year. This has had a detrimental effect on the travel and tourism business here.
The disaster experienced in Uttarakhand in June last year had caused major damage and this is feared to be the major reason for tourists staying showing less interest in enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas and nature at attractions like Auli. The disaster had struck last year during the Char Dham Yatra season which had also caused loss in business to those involved in the travel, tourism, hotel and hospitality trades. Those involved in these sectors were hoping that winter tourism would help boost their business but this has not happened. Even after three rounds of snowfall at Auli this season, tourists have not started arriving here which has caused disappointment among those involved in tourism related businesses.
Deepak Dimri, who works as a skiing instructor at Auli, said that his business has crashed due to absence of tourist arrivals here. He was hoping for tourist arrivals during the winter after snowfall but the loss suffered in business during the June disaster is being faced during this winter too. Observers said that events like Winterline Carnival at Mussoorie and adventure sports car rally organised by the State Government to attract tourists to Uttarakhand post-disaster have failed to have the desired impact. Such events need to be held in the mountainous areas where disaster had affected tourism business more than in places where the damage was minimal.