Himachal Pradesh, which saw an influx of tourists during Christmas, is once again all decked up for New Year celebrations.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged tourists to follow safety rules and regulations. A warning was also issued for those found in an inebriated condition.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg, while speaking to India Today, said, “Visitors are welcome, and we are taking every care to make their holiday trip memorable. Every effort is being made to maintain law and order. I appeal to tourists to keep the safety aspect in mind wherever they go.”
10K VEHICLES ENTERING MANALI DAILY
Manali Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) KD Sharma said that nearly 10,000 tourist vehicles entered the valley on Friday. The highest number of tourist vehicles was reported on Christmas Eve, with 28,000 vehicles using the Atal Tunnel to reach the snow-clad Lahaul and Spiti valleys.
“Manali has been divided into eight sectors to manage the traffic. Idle parking and overtaking has been prohibited besides any other violation. A force of 70 cops and over 100 home guard jawans will be deployed in Manali town to manage the traffic movement,” KD Sharma said.
TOURISTS ENJOY SNOW ADVENTURES DESPITE ODDS
Despite the biting cold with the minimum temperature in Lahaul and Spiti dropping as low as minus 10°C, tourists flocked to the state to enjoy snowfall.
In Koksar, a popular destination for many tourists, the minimum temperature on Saturday was recorded at minus 6°C.
The allure of snow remains the primary attraction, driving the increased footfall in other places, including in Manali, Lahaul and Spiti, with hundreds of tourists visiting Sissu, Koksar, and the Atal Tunnel daily to witness the snowfall.
Meanwhile, the state government has made extensive preparations to draw in tourists.
Manali and Shimla are offering a range of events, including the Manali Queen beauty pageant, gala dinners, and musical nights, all aimed at attracting visitors.
According to Manali’s Himachal Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) General Manager, BS Aukta, the occupancy in state-owned hotels is nearing full capacity.
“The occupancy fell below 15 per cent during the monsoon season, but it improved during November 2023. After December 20, the occupancy was between 80 and 100 per cent,” BS Aukta said.
She further said that the corporation has planned various events including live music shows, snacks, drinks and a special night for couples on December 31.
The evening will feature lemon and balloon dances, culminating in the Manali Queen competition.
TRAFFIC CONGESTION EXPECTED ON NEW YEAR’s EVE
Following the floods and landslides in July 2023, many roads in the state still lack tarring, thus resulting in slow traffic movement and congestion. The highway connecting Mandi and Manali is still under repair, leading to traffic jams near Pondoh Dam, where a 4.5 km stretch has been washed away, diverting traffic onto a narrow road.
Although traffic congestion has eased since Christmas, when Manali experienced its worst-ever traffic jam, it may return amid the New Year celebrations as more tourists are expected to reach the valley.
A total of 28.03 lakh tourists visited Himachal Pradesh in June 2023, compared to 20.62 lakh the previous year. Only 116 tourists visited the state in June 2020.
The number improved in June 2021 when the state recorded six lakh arrivals. The state could have seen the highest number of tourists if not for floods and bad weather in 2023.
The hotel industry hopes to recover losses during the current winter season.