With people heading to hill stations, New Year failed to woo tourists to Shimla which recorded a 50-60 per cent occupancy – the lowest in the last 40 years, according to the sources. As per data, the occupancy was recorded over 80%, last year. The hotel and allied industries were hopping for large crowd this year too, but that did not happen.The winter funfair has transformed the citys Mall Road and The Ridge into a dazzling display of lights and culture, but despite this, hotel room occupancy has not kept pace with the influx of visitors, according to MK Seth, president of the Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders Association.According to him, the occupancy rate of 50–60% is the lowest it has been in 40 years. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a greater influx of tourists over the New Years holiday, he told PTI.Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the police to follow Atithi Devo Bhava, and facilitate tourists and make adequate arrangements in all districts for the smooth flow of traffic.#WATCH | On inaugurating the first-ever Winter Carnival in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, We want tourism to increase and to promote tourism Winter Carnival is being organised here and it will be organized every year. From December 20 to January 5,… https://t.co/lIK5cPqDZ4 pic.twitter.com/oEJ9Y16kxi— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2023Besides this, the administration has also directed the food joints and pan shops to remain open 24x7.
