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Nainital News: These days, the tourism business in the lake city of Nainital is facing a slowdown. Due to the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh and the Delhi Assembly elections, there has been a decline of about 20% in the arrival of tourists. Due to this, the business of everyone from the hotel business to taxis, bike taxis, boat operations and small shopkeepers has been affected. The room rates in hotels have also come down by 40-50%, but still the advance booking is almost negligible.

The economy of Nainital and its surrounding rural tourist areas has become completely dependent on tourism. Due to the increasing faith of devotees at religious places like Kainchi Dham, there was a constant flow of tourists in these areas throughout the year. But this time there is silence even in the last week of January. More than 200 small shopkeepers working in the city's major tourist places like Himalaya Darshan, Barapathar, Tanki Band, Snowview and other areas are completely dependent on tourists. Due to the decline in tourism business, these shopkeepers are sitting idle.

There is a lack of tourists in the state due to Maha Kumbh and Delhi Assembly
. There are more than 350 hotels operating in Nainital. Apart from this, there are a large number of guest houses and illegally running hotels. But at this time most of the hotels are empty. According to Digvijay Singh Bisht, President of Nainital Hotel and Restaurant Association, there has been a lack of tourists due to Prayagraj Maha Kumbh and Delhi Assembly elections. Due to this, room rents in hotels have been reduced by 40-50%.

Hotels, guest houses and homestays located in areas around Nainital such as Kilbari, Pangot, Mangoli, Bhumiyandhar, Jyoalikot, Gethiya and Baldiyakhan are also waiting for tourists. The decline in tourism business has affected not only hotels but also other services. More than five thousand employees are working in hotels and guest houses in Nainital. Apart from these, more than seven hundred taxis, one thousand bike taxis, more than five hundred boat operators, more than 200 tourist guides and 50 outdoor photographers are dependent on the tourism business.

Businessmen worried 
due to lack of tourists Parking, taxis, stall businesses, restaurants and shopkeepers selling gift items are also facing losses due to lack of tourists. Bookings by VIPs and their friends have reduced drastically in government guest houses as well. The biggest reason for worry for the tourism businessmen is that this time the advance booking is almost nil even on the Republic Day and weekends. This situation is normally rarely seen. The influx of tourists in the end of January and beginning of February used to provide some relief to the businessmen, but it is not happening this time.

Businessmen say that the number of tourists in Uttarakhand has decreased due to the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and the Delhi Assembly elections. A huge crowd of devotees is gathering in the Maha Kumbh, which is reducing the number of tourists coming to Nainital. Tourism businessmen hope that the arrival of tourists will increase from the first fortnight of February. Also, in the coming season, there is a possibility of a crowd of tourists at Kainchi Dham, Naini Lake and other places.

The effect of recession is clearly visible on the tourism business in Nainital at this time. Prayagraj Maha Kumbh and election activities have slowed down the business. However, businessmen are hopeful that soon the number of tourists will increase and the economy of the city will get a boost again.