Himachal Pradesh experienced a significant rise in tourism from January to June 2024, welcoming over one crore visitors, marking an increase of 80,697 tourists compared to the same period last year. According to officials, popular destinations such as Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Kinnaur, and Lahaul and Spiti continue to draw large crowds.
A statement from the state’s tourism department reported the arrival of 1,00,87,440 tourists during the first half of this year, compared to 1,00,06,743 tourists in the same timeframe in 2023. This trend is expected to continue through July, aided by favourable weather conditions and open roads, providing a respite for tourists seeking to escape the heat in the plains.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu acknowledged that while some roads have been affected by adverse weather, the majority remain accessible. “Despite recent weather conditions affecting some roads, most of the roads across the state have remained accessible,” Sukhu said.
The chief minister expressed optimism about the continued influx of tourists in July, predicting that the state could receive more than two crore visitors by the end of the year. He emphasized the importance of tourists staying informed about travel advisories and road conditions via district administration helplines, police departments, and social media platforms.
Sukhu also noted the efforts of the Public Works Department in clearing road blockades and restoring travel routes swiftly to ensure the safety and convenience of travellers.
The tourism figures for the first six months of previous years indicate a fluctuating pattern, with 89 lakh visitors in 2018, 99.57 lakh in 2019, a significant drop to 22.04 lakh in 2020, a slight increase to 19.75 lakh in 2021, and 86.42 lakh in 2022. This year’s robust numbers highlight a strong recovery and growing interest in Himachal Pradesh as a prime tourist destination.
