Tourists continue to throng Shimla, Manali in spite of rains

The tourist rush continues this year in the popular Himachal Pradesh resorts of Shimla and Manali some twenty days after the onset of the monsoon. Both places saw a huge rush of tourists over the weekend despite heavy rains all over northern India. This time the rains set in a week early in Himachal on June 23, according to a report by Baldev S Chauhan in My Himachal.

Observers said these trends are indicators that Shimla and Manali have now become all season destinations. Travel agents say that in the past, after the onset of the monsoon, tourist destinations in the state would witness a sudden drop in arrivals, but this year is unusual as the rush has continued, particularly on weekends. In the past, hotels would offer off season packages but due to the rush continuing, members of the hotel and travel industry are reluctant to offer discounts this rainy season. It also indicates that the growing Indian middle class is travelling more as it gets richer with the booming Indian economy.