The charming hill station of Shimla is witnessing a surge in tourist arrivals as vacationers seek respite from the scorching summer temperatures. Hotel occupancy rates have soared to approximately 90 percent during the weekends, drawing large crowds to the popular “queen of hills.” However, the weekdays have yet to witness the same level of summer rush, according to Prince Kukreja, Vice President of the Shimla Hotel and Restaurant Association.
Traditionally, the peak summer tourist season in Himachal Pradesh begins from April 15 and lasts until June 15. As schools in the plains also commence their summer vacations towards the end of May, a considerable number of people flock to the hills to escape the heat. Many tourists are opting for spontaneous trips, resulting in a decline in advance bookings, as highlighted by Kukreja.
M.K. Seth, President of the Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association, reported that room occupancy rates reach around 80-90 percent on weekends but drop significantly to 30-40 percent on weekdays. Shimla Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, revealed that since May 22, a total of 157,335 vehicles have entered and exited Shimla via the Chandigarh-Shimla road at the Shoghi Barrier. Out of these, approximately 30 percent (46,998 vehicles) were recorded on Fridays and Saturdays. Gandhi also noted that the majority of the vehicle movement, around 55-60 percent, was towards Shimla.
Seth expressed concerns about a decline in advance bookings, attributing it to vacationers’ preference for on-the-spot check-ins. Additionally, unauthorized accommodations operating under the guise of ‘Bed and Breakfast’ (B&B) schemes have become a challenge for the hotel industry in Shimla. Seth highlighted that online operators are booking rooms in private flats, homes, bungalows, and villas, offering significant discounts to tourists. This practice adversely affects the registered hotels, whose tariffs are regulated by the Tourism Department.
In summary, Shimla is witnessing a surge in tourist arrivals as vacationers flock to the hill station to escape the summer heat. While hotel occupancy rates have reached 90 percent on weekends, weekdays have yet to witness the same level of rush. Spontaneous trips and a decline in advance bookings have been observed. The unauthorized accommodations operating under B&B schemes pose a significant challenge to the registered hotels, impacting their business adversely.
