The Chandigarh administration officials blame Himachal Pradesh’s summertime flooding and extreme heat for the decline.
In the first seven months of 2023, domestic visitor arrivals fell by an astounding 85%, according to statistics from the tourism department, as the UT administration prepares to commemorate tourism week starting on Friday.
From January 1 to July 31, 2022, there were 21.63 lakh domestic visitors; at the same time this year, there were just 3.2 lakh.
On the other hand, throughout the same time period, the number of foreign visitors increased exponentially. A 150% increase from 14,723 in 2022 brought the total to 37,026. These travelers were primarily from France, Spain, Germany, and Italy.
However, the decline in domestic arrivals highlights the urgent need to aggressively market the city as a specialized destination for cutting-edge design, a well-thought-out layout, and tranquil flora, in addition to attempts to bring in more facilities for tourists.
The Capitol Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Bird Park, Indian Air Force Heritage Centre, and Government Museum and Art Gallery are among Chandigarh’s top tourist attractions.
Less visitors planned travels to Chandigarh, generally a stopover before longer stays in the hill state and elsewhere, as a result of the natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh and severe rains throughout north India in June and July. Even before then, May and June were extremely hot months. Additionally, the city had an increase in visitors last year, largely as a result of life returning to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic’s two-year absence. As the monsoon retreats and the weather cools, we anticipate a greater stream of tourists between October and December, according to Rohit Gupta, Chandigarh’s director of tourism.
Tourist facilities are not up to par.
Although the UT tourism department advertises five tourist information centers at Sector 17 Plaza, the railway station, Capitol Complex, Sukhna Lake, and the airport, those at the latter two locations were discovered to be vacant.
Additionally, neither the tourism department nor CITCO have attempted to fix the signage that was put up more than ten years ago, with the majority of them lying uprooted or faded. The Capitol Complex’s valuable heritage designation has not been adequately promoted by the department, as no signage reflects this distinction.
Since the central government had already narrowed down a company to carry out the signpost installation, Gupta stated that the project would shortly get underway.
Hop-on, hop-off tour bus loses luster
The 2001-launched double-decker hop-on/hop-off tourist bus is likewise failing to draw large numbers.
According to records, even after making many rounds of the city’s tourist attractions over the past five years, the tourist bus has only received about 40 passengers throughout the entire day. Despite the fact that the bus was designed to encourage tourism in the city, the display boards that previously mentioned the timetable and route have vanished 20 years after they were installed. Even the many noticeboards that show the city’s map are begging for attention.
The creation of a tourism advisory group is urgently required. The committee will handle all concerns relating to tourism in the city, according to Ankit Gupta, president of the Chandigarh Hospitality Association.
Source- Hindustan times
Link- https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/tourist-influx-in-chandigarh-down-by-85-in-first-7-months-of-2023-101695341824252.html
