Dehradun, June 8: Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and Congress leader Harish Rawat stated on Sunday that the number of tourists in the state this year has been significantly lower than expected, severely impacting the hotel industry. He urged Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to provide relief packages to compensate for the losses faced by hotels.
Speaking to the media, Rawat emphasized that this should be a peak time for tourism, yet the visitor numbers are disappointing. Consequently, the hotel industry is suffering immensely.
He further urged the Chief Minister to consider relief measures, such as tax exemptions, to support the hotel sector affected by the decline in tourism.
Rawat accused the current BJP government of failing to make adequate arrangements for the ongoing Char Dham Yatra. He noted that the arrangements for the pilgrimage have already been disrupted, and the state government seems uncertain about which policies to implement.
The former Chief Minister remarked that at times, the government discusses capacity issues, while at other times, it invites more pilgrims. There is inconsistency in policies regarding online and offline bookings, leading to a lack of clarity.
However, earlier discussions with Uttarakhand Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary indicated that this year, the state has seen more pilgrims participating in the Char Dham Yatra than anticipated. He emphasized that the increase in pilgrims has positively impacted the tourism sector, creating more job opportunities for locals.
The Congress party also claimed that the state administration has failed to make proper arrangements considering the weather conditions.
In response to the tragic fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, Harish Rawat expressed his sorrow, stating that this incident should serve as a lesson for all states. He criticized the Delhi police for arresting the chef of the guesthouse instead of the manager and relevant officials.
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