Shimla, the “Queen of Hills” and one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, is facing a major challenge that is impacting its tourism industry. According to a Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association report, the average stay of tourists in Shimla has come down from four to five days in the 1970s to just one day today. This decline is attributed to several factors, including traffic jams, parking issues, and the mushrooming growth of unregistered accommodations in and around Shimla.

The increasing number of unregistered accommodations is a major concern as they are not accounted for in the official statistics, leading to a 70-80% decrease in the average number of days tourists stay in registered accommodations. Another factor affecting the tourism industry in Shimla is the summer water shortage and the risk of landslides on the Shimla-Parwanoo National Highway during the monsoons. These conditions make commuting difficult, causing many tourists to cancel their plans to visit Shimla.

Reports, Concerns and Opinions of Industry and Experts

Hotelier Sushant Nag says that the district administration’s advisories to avoid commuting on slippery roads and the heavy traffic on the roads are also demotivating tourists. To tackle this situation, the Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association is preparing a roadmap to attract tourists and increase their footfall and stay throughout the year. The association plans to present the Chief Minister with suggestions to create a tourist-friendly atmosphere and new attractions in and around tourist destinations and publicize them to the world.

“The tourist arrival has increased manifold compared to the 1970s as people had more time and less push and pulls. When we calculate the mean average, the average duration decreases with an increase in the number of tourists,”

Tourism department, Himachal Pradesh University

Tourism department head Chander Mohan says that the average duration of tourist stays has decreased with the increase in the number of tourists, even though the tourist arrival has increased manifold compared to the 1970s. This is because tourists residing in unauthorised accommodations, which are being sold at cheap rates, are not included in the official data.

Director of Tourism Amit Kashyap says that tourists might have reduced their stays in Shimla town because they seek solace in rural areas. With the improvement of roads and rural infrastructure and the opening of homestays, tourists are now staying in those areas more frequently.

If you are looking to fly to Shimla, we would suggest you either take a flight to Chandigarh or to New Delhi. These flights are much more affordable and well-connected via roads to Shimla. It takes about 8 hours from Delhi and 2 hours from Chandigarh via bus or cab.

Higher tax and water charges are the main reasons to avoid long stays in Shimla

The high tax slabs, huge water and garbage charges for genuine hoteliers, and the cheap unregistered accommodations being offered to tourists are also affecting the industry. According to the report, over 350 unregistered units have come up in and around Shimla operating through online portals, creating unhealthy competition for registered hotels and homestays.

Hotels and parking slots in Shimla town can accommodate only 2,800-3,000 vehicles, and the locals use about 40% of the space in the six main parking lots. Overcharging by private or leased parking has become an accepted practice, putting tourists at a disadvantage. As a result, many hoteliers are giving up and giving their hotels on a lease, which leads to the leaseholders selling rooms at a low tariff to cover the lease amount, further worsening the competition.

Unregistered Hotels on the rise in Shimla

The total number of registered hotels, guest houses, and homestay units in the Shimla district are 556, totalling 9,530 rooms. About 50% of these are in Shimla town and its periphery. According to the guidelines, homestay units can have a maximum of three rooms, while the Bed and Breakfast scheme can have six rooms. However, these guidelines are often flouted, leading to an increase in unregistered accommodations.

Tourism is a significant contributor to the state GDP of Himachal Pradesh, accounting for around 7.5% and is one of the largest employment-generating industries. In 2021, as many as 9,52,617 tourists visited the Shimla district.

As per the guidelines, the Homestay units can have a maximum of three rooms while the Bed and Breakfast scheme can have six, but these guidelines are often flouted.

The tourism sector of Himachal Pradesh contributes around 7.5% to the state GDP and is one of the highest employment-generating industries. In 2021, as many as 9,52,617 tourists visited the Shimla district.

Source – BQPrime

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