Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat expressed concern over the low tourist arrivals in the state this year, significantly impacting the hotel industry. He called upon Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to consider offering a relief package to help mitigate the losses faced by the hospitality sector.
Rawat emphasized that the current tourism season, which should have been thriving, has seen a notable decline in visitor numbers, leading to adverse effects on hotels. He specifically suggested the provision of tax exemptions as part of a relief package to support hotels grappling with the repercussions of reduced tourism.
Highlighting his discontent with the BJP-led state government, Rawat criticized the alleged lack of adequate arrangements for the ongoing Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage. He pointed out inconsistencies in the government’s approach, citing confusion over policies related to pilgrimage management and visitor capacity.
In a contrasting perspective, Uttarakhand Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary previously informed that this year witnessed a surge in pilgrims participating in the Char Dham Yatra, surpassing expectations. Chaudhary noted the positive impact of increased pilgrim numbers on the state’s tourism sector, leading to enhanced employment opportunities for locals.
The Congress party further raised concerns about the state administration’s purported failure to address weather-related challenges. Chaudhary specifically mentioned issues of flooding in cities like Dehradun following light rainfall, criticizing the lack of preventive measures taken by authorities to mitigate such incidents.
Reacting to the tragic fire incident in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, Rawat expressed sorrow and emphasized the need for lessons to be learned from the event. He criticized the Delhi Police for allegedly targeting the chef of a B&B facility instead of holding accountable the manager and relevant authorities responsible for violating guidelines and safety norms.
