Year-end dispels tourism sector’s DeMo blues

Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 30

After a dip due to demonetisation, the popular tourist places in the Kumaon region are now getting a good number of tourists who are looking forward to enjoying the snowfall and celebrating the New Year.

According to reports received from Nainital, Ramgarh, Corbett Park, Almora, Binsar, Kausani, Munsiyari and Birthi, the number of tourists has gone up this year compared to last year.

“The number of tourists who came to Munsiyari between December 20 and 30 last year was 4,333. The number this year has crossed 5,000 and is increasing,” said Jagdish Singh Rawat, president of the hotel association in Munsiyari.

In Nainital, the number of tourists wanting to bask in the clear sun has risen in the last week as the region from Haldwani to Bareilly has been hit by fog. “The number of tourists during December in Nainital is more this year than the previous,” said a KMVN officer at Sukhatal rest house.

Kausani, which was described as mini-Switzerland by Mahatma Gandhi in 30s, is also full of tourists these days. As the Himalayan peaks are clearly visible from Kausani due to clear sky these days, tourists from Gujarat, West Bengal, Delhi and Punjab are making a beeline for this place.

“Last month, the tourism industry had been hit by demonetisation. Now, tourism in Kausani has started booming as more than 90 per cent space in hotels is booked these days,” said Tara Dutt Tiwari, manager of the tourists’ reception centre of KMVN at Kausani.

Even at the famous natural falls of Birthi, which lie on the way to Munsiyari, the tourist flow this month has gone up. Most tourists, on their way to the snow town of Munsiyari, take a break at Birthi.

“We have witnessed more than 7,000 tourists in the last 10 days. The number was 6,800 last year,” said Kedar Singh, incharge of KMVN tourist facility at Birthi.