Floods in Kashmir may be a boon for Himachal Pradesh. A surge in tourist inflow to Himachal Pradesh is likely in the upcoming festive season because the devastating floods in Kashmir are scaring away tourists.
Tourism industry representatives are expecting a 30 to 35 per cent increase in the arrival of tourists with the onset of the Dussehra and Durga Puja festive season in the first week of October, particularly in places like Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala.“We are expecting 30-35 per cent increase in footfall of the tourists during this period in the State compared to the previous years,” Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp (HPTDC) general manager Yogesh Behl told IANS.
He said that most tourists from West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi were opting to Himachal for vacations with the onset of Navaratri and Durga Puja.“Our information centres are getting enquiries from the tourists who are now opting Himachal due to the natural calamity in Kashmir,” he added.After the peak tourists’ months of May and June, it is the long Dussehra and Durga Puja holidays that every year attracts a stream of holidaymakers to the hill State.
A corporate executive Malvika Arora said she cancelled her bookings in Srinagar and was now planning to visit Manali during Dussehra holidays. Hotelier and travel agent MC Thakur, who is based in Manali said adventure tourists, mainly foreigners, one of the major attractions of Himachal from September to October, was also gaining this season.
“Most of the foreigners generally prefer to drive down the 475-km-long Manali-leh highway. From leh, they travel towards Srinagar. Now, most of them prefer to come back to Manali again,” he said.