Tourism Stuck In Traffic Jams

Sunil Sharma      (cover story)

Tourism in Himachal has been stuck in traffic jams at all tourist destinations. The state is witnessing a jam packed situation as tourist season coincides with summer vacation in plain areas. People throng to hill destinations here but this year the situation is unprecedented as tourists inflow increased due to prevailing situation in Kashmir valley and Darjeeling. Domestic and international tourists prefer this hilly state due to its peaceful and serene environment in addition to natural beauty. However, the prevailing infrastructural facilities are not able to accommodate the huge rush of visitors. Both the locals and tourists face numerous difficulties due to traffic jams. The government needs to initiate immediate steps to cope with the situation. Strengthening facilities, connectivity, establishing new destinations and other such matters will help in tapping full tourism potential besides boosting state’s economy, feel those associated with hospitality sector.

Tourists’ Woes…

* Lack of infrastructural facilities

* Lack of adequate accommodation

* Long traffic jams in all destinations

* Over charging of room rent and eatables

* Bad condition of roads

Threats…

* Accidents due to overcrowding, over speeding

* Venture out in water without bothering for warning signals

Challenge To Sustain Influx

Himachal has witnessed huge tourist influx this tourist season coinciding with summer vacation in plain areas. Hospitality sector in this hilly state received manifold visitors due to prevailing situation in Kashmir valley and Darjeeling. The figure is likely to cross two crore this year. The inflow gained momentum tremendously during past one month even as there is usually rush on weekends. Almost all hotels at tourist destinations recorded 100 percent occupancy. As tourists prefer private transport mode, traffic jams were also a common site. Shimla, Dharamshala, McLeodganj, Kullu-Manali and other tourist destinations were packed to the capacity as visitors preferred peaceful and serene places in this hilly state over other states. There was no accommodation available even in government rest houses. Those associated with the sector said that travel agents were pressurizing them for advance booking of rooms at all tourist destinations in Himachal. It has come as big boost to people dependent on this sector.

Develop New Destinations

Tourism experts feel that Himachal can attract more tourists if under developed and new destinations are developed while implementing tourism projects at Bilaspur, Hamirpur and other areas on Shimla-Dharamshala stretch. Himachal is attracting tourists due to its clean environment and peaceful atmosphere. New destinations needed to be developed as tourists will get disinterested in old destinations which they have visited many times.

What Can Be Done…

* Promote health, adventure and eco-tourism

* Invite big chains of hotels

* Strengthen connectivity

* Establish entertainment parks

Water Sports Potential 

Pong, Chamera and Bhakhra dams have immense potential in water sports besides other stretches in Beas and Sutlej rivers. A conducive atmosphere for investors should be ensured to tap this potential.

Promote Eco-tourism: There is need to promote eco-tourism concept to accommodate more tourists in Himachal. The eco-tourism policy was approved two years ago but none of the project has been implemented despite completion of formalities five months ago. As a result, crowd is increasing at tourist destinations. Eco-tourism policy is aimed at providing employment opportunities besides promoting Himachali folk culture among domestic and international tourists. Himachal has 92 wetland sites that can change the direction and status of tourism in Himachal if tourists are attracted towards these places by establishing tents around these on the pattern of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Nearly 120 new places have been identified across the state that have immense tourism potential.

* There was advance booking in all hotels of the corporation and the situation is likely to continue further

-BR Chauhan, Deputy General Manager, HPTDC

Enhance Tourists Stay

Most of the tourists visiting Himachal stay here for only a couple of days. It needs to be increased to promote tourism further by implementing concrete projects. Eco tourism schemes have not been implemented. Entertainment parks have been announced since 1977 but are yet to be translated into reality. Bir-Billing is famous for paragliding but such facilities need to be created in Kullu-Manali and Bilaspur that have immense potential. Adventure sports and skiing has not been promoted in areas that have snow clad hills. There is need to develop destinations away from hustle-bustle of towns as these areas won’t have traffic and parking woes. Tourism potential in tribal areas can only be developed by developing infrastructural facilities. Hoteliers Mohinder Seth, Surender Thakur, Kamal Kumar and Jagdish Kumar say that Himachal can lag behind in cut-throat rivalry in future if it fails to implement big tourism projects.

Promote High-end Tourism: This summer, Himachal witnessed a quantum jump in number of tourists even as the state is also famous for weekend tourism. Under such circumstances, constructing rope way projects in different destinations is must for tapping tourism potential.

* Himachal needs to create infrastructural facilities and develop under developed destinations to sustain the increasing influx of tourists

-Rahul Dhiman Treasurer, McLeodganj Hotel Association

* Clean environment, good law and order situation and quality destinations attract tourists to this hilly state

-Harnam Kukreja President, Shimla Hotel Association

* Steps should be taken to promote high-end tourism. Improve connectivity and construct flyovers to reduce traffic jams

-Vijender Thakur President, Manali Hotel Association

Unable To Accommodate Crowd

Summer vacation in plains have removed the difference between tourists and crowd this year. Himachal can explore this potential in future but it can also bring negative publicity due to mismanagement. This hill state at present is unable to accommodate huge inflow of tourists and figures must be analysed for a better planning. Local lifestyle is bound to be affected if tourists in double or thrice the number of Himachal’s population visit here. Ethics of tourism and value based tourism is absent. One can enjoy walking along with tourists on the Mall Road in Shimla but the Queen of Hills is now suffering due to increasing crowd. Shimla and Dharamshala should evaluate their tourism potential as smart cities. Almost every tourist destination attracts tourists due to natural landscapes and beauty. How will we accept the frequent traffic jams due to increasing crowd that is hampering daily life in Himachal? The High Court took cognizance of traffic pressure in Shimla and constituted a committee that should plan traffic blueprint to provide some relief. The court has also directed to explore the possibilities of constructing flyovers and elevated roads thus underlining state’s developmental goals. Similar is the condition in every town and city of Himachal. We have to widen roads and strengthen transportation modes but it is right time to think about the challenges in new contexts. Tourists diverted towards Himachal due to Kashmir problem and situation in Uttarakhand but we have to overcome our shortcomings to enhance potential in this sector by bringing new and lesser known places in mainstream tourism. Emphasis should be laid on main roads by formulating a plan to develop rural tourism. Development of one tourism village in each assembly segment can be achieved by linking it with MLA priority schemes. Many departments can play important role if we develop centres with tourism facility, mini haat and local produce at every twenty five kilometre on main roads. Developing one entertainment and water park, artificial lake, eco-tourism site and science city in every district can give a new direction to tourism. Mountaineering institute and forest department will have to expand their base to cater to the liking of youths for adventure tourism. Accommodation facility can be increased by linking all dak bungalows of Himachal with integrated registration system at least in tourism season. A detailed plan needs to be formulated to establish new premises, walking treks and hill station under public private partnership mode. Parking places should be developed around tourist and religious places while public transport facility should be provided to strengthen connectivity.

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