Foreign Tourism Thrives In Himachal
Jaideep Rehan
The figure of foreign tourists thronging Himachal Pradesh is on a constant rise with each passing year. In fact, this figure has doubled in last one decade. About two lakh foreign tourists visited this hill state in 2005. It has now touched 4.7 lakh mark in 2017.
There are many factors including religious, spiritual, adventure, pristine natural beauty and clean climate that is attracting foreign tourists towards Himachal. McLeodganj has also remained prominent tourist spot for foreign tourists. The construction of numerous hotels are playing an important role in augmentation of this figure. According to information, about 2907 hotels with 81,514 bed capacity are registered with the tourism department. Besides this, 1220 home stay units with 7044 bed capacity are offering services in the tourism sector.
2012 proved to be the best year for tourism in the last one decade as far as arrival of foreign tourists was concerned. Record five lakh foreign tourists visited Himachal in 2012. However after 2012 influx of foreign tourists to Himachal declined and became steady at about four lakh till 2015. Last two years again saw an inclining trend and the figure has remained above 4.5 lakh.
Increasing influx of foreign tourists in the country seems to have a positive impact on this hill state too. The figure of foreign tourists who visited Himachal stood at about 2.08 lakh in 2005 when the same number for country stood at 39.18 lakh.
And now in 2017, the country saw influx of more than one crore foreign tourists that translated to doubly jump in foreign tourists at 4.73 lakh for Himachal as well. Safe and clean environs emerged as the biggest attracting factor for tourists to Himachal.
Record Influx In 2012
Year Foreign Tourists
(in lakhs)
2005 2.08
2006 2.81
2007 3.39
2008 3.77
2009 4.01
2010 4.54
2011 4.84
2012 5.00
2013 4.14
2014 3.90
2015 4.06
2016 4.53
2017 4.71
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘Divya Himachal TV’. Also, Download our Android App
