Himachal awaits snowfall, tourists will get good news on Christmas and New Year:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Tourists arrive in Himachal Pradesh in anticipation of Christmas and New Year's celebrations. Tourists planning to visit Himachal from various states across the country may be greeted by snowfall just before Christmas. With the reactivation of a western disturbance on December 20th and 21st, the weather in the higher elevations of the state is set to change.

Snowfall is expected before Christmas, especially in some areas of the state's higher elevations. This weather could bring good news for tourists visiting Himachal for Christmas and New Year's. However, Himachal 's tourism sector has been unable to recover since COVID-19. While the state's tourist destinations are crowded on weekends, expectations for the tourist season have not been met.

Slow bookings at HPTDC hotels

However, so far, only 21 percent of the hotels managed by the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation have been booked in advance. Anil Taneja, manager of the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation ( HPTDC), says that approximately 40 percent of the hotels have been booked in advance for the night of December 31st alone. Last year, only 50 percent of the hotels were booked on the night of December 31st. Previously, they were fully booked.

Hotel Association awaits snowfall

Hotel Association official Rajiv Sood said that although a small number of tourists have begun to arrive in Himachal, they are still waiting for snowfall. The anticipated tourist season hasn't arrived yet. He says that many homestays are operating illegally, and tourists prefer to stay there due to the low cost. The hotel business is not doing well. Private hotels have also seen limited bookings. However, if snowfall occurs, tourist arrivals are expected to increase.

Crowds on weekends, but hoteliers are suffering losses

Despite this, Himachal's tourist destinations are still experiencing a surge of tourists on weekends, causing traffic jams on the roads. Tourism businesses say that some tourists prefer to stay in homestays, while those from neighboring states often arrive in their own vehicles and leave. This is causing losses for hoteliers.