Manali: The prolonged heat and dry spell in the plains has led to an exponential increase in footfall of tourists in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, say members of the hospitality industry. Â The tourist season this summer has been extremely good. As per the field reports, there has been an approximate increase of 20-25% in the tourist inflow to the state as compared with last year’s, Tourism Director Mohan Chauhan said on Sunday.Â
All the hotels in major tourism destinations registered almost 100% occupancy during the peak tourist season. Â “In monetary terms, most of the tourist destinations are hoping to bag a record revenue due to an increase in the inflow of tourists during the summer season, which is now an extended season,” Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp (HPTDC) general manager Yogesh Behl said.Â
Manali remains a magnet for holiday makers due to pleasant weather.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had said the government might develop a ski resort at Chanshal near Rohru in Shimla district besides developing the Bashal Kanda (near Sarahan) area for which the tourism department has been asked to conduct a survey for constructing ropeway. The hospitality industry contributes 9.75% to the gross domestic product of the state.Â
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