Arrangements stuck, tourists did not reach Nainital as expected
The preparations that the district administration, police and tourism businessmen had been making for the past two weeks for the bumper influx of tourists on Thirty First remained in vain. On Thirty First, not as many tourists reached the city as on a normal weekend. Even the inner parking lots of the city could not be filled till evening. Due to which the special traffic plan made by the police was also not implemented.
Tourism businessmen say that except some big hotels of the city, 100 percent of the rooms could not be sold. Traders said that in other years the business which was 100 percent was reduced to about 40 percent. Businessmen believe that the reason behind this is dense fog in the plains, Covid and wrong dissemination of messages issued by the administration and police in the internet media.
Let us tell you that on Thirty First, a bumper influx of tourists was expected in the city. For which the district administration, police and tourism businessmen were busy in preparations since two weeks ago. Tourism business was better on Christmas. Traders were hopeful that business would be bumper on Thirty First. For which the police issued a special traffic plan two days in advance.
Since Saturday, policemen had been deployed at Rusi, Narayan Nagar, Bhawali Masjid Tiraha and other barriers. While business was light on Saturday, traders were expecting a huge crowd on Sunday. But there was silence in the city till late afternoon. A small number of tourists arrived in the afternoon. Due to which crowd was not seen like in previous years. Due to which the tourism businessmen engaged in preparations had to face disappointment.
Special traffic plan could not be implemented
More than five thousand tourists reach Nainital in the city on a normal weekend. As their number increases, the police have to stop tourist vehicles at the entry point. Anticipating bumper crowd on Thirty First, the police had also made a special traffic plan. But the police plan could not be implemented till evening.
Last year, where more than a thousand vehicles were stopped at the Russian Bypass, tourists were sent to the city by shuttle service. This year tourist vehicles were not stopped at the entry point. Where the drivers engaged in shuttle service along with the policemen kept waiting for the tourists. According to the toll operator, about five hundred vehicles entered from Tallital area. About seven hundred vehicles would have reached the city via Kaladhungi route.
Business was good for the big hotels of the city. Since two weeks ago, up to 80 percent advance booking had been done in big hotels. Which became completely full on thirty first. But small hoteliers were disappointed. Hotel and Restaurant Association President Digvijay Singh Bisht said that except a few big hotels, the business of the rest of the hotels remained slow. Due to less crowd, the business which was 100 percent till last years was around 40 percent.
Fog and Covid are believed to be the reason
Tourism business has been affected due to dense fog in the plains and increase in Covid cases in the metros once again. The direct effect of which was seen on Thirty First. Big hotel operators told in the conversation that some tourists who had made advance booking earlier had canceled the booking due to Covid. Digvijay Singh Bisht said that there is dense fog in the plains for the last four-five days. In such a situation, tourists are avoiding leaving their homes.
Expressed displeasure on the arrangements of administration and police
With the tourism business, which used to be a bumper thirty-first in the city, falling to around 40 percent, the tourism businessmen appeared extremely unhappy with the arrangements made by the administration and the police. Digvijay Singh Bisht said that the arrangements were not implemented properly by the administration and police.
Apart from this, the wrong and misleading information spread in the internet media at the national level after Christmas regarding the disturbances in Mussoorie, Nainital and other tourist places including Ful has also affected the business. Said that along with Nainital, the inflow of tourists has been less in other tourist places also. Apart from this, a large number of tourists who had reached Nainital on Christmas have returned, due to which business at Thirty First was slow.
Police remained deployed at every nook and corner
Despite the low influx of tourists in the city, the police appeared ready. Policemen deployed in Mall Road and market areas along with other intersections including Tallital Daant, Mallital Rickshaw Stand, BD Pandey Hospital Square, Masjid Tiraha, Cheena Baba Square, Manumaharani Square, Sukhatal, ATI and other intersections of the city kept patrolling. The police team along with traffic inspector Adesh Kumar kept patrolling and removing the vehicles parked on the roads.
Tourists enjoyed sightseeing
The tourists who reached the city enjoyed Himalayan Darshan, Cave Garden, Zoo, Botanical Garden, Waterfall and other tourist places. Tourists were seen enjoying boating in Naini Lake. As the cold increased in the evening, tourists remained busy shopping in various markets including Pant Park, Tibetan Market, Bada Bazaar. Tourists were also seen enjoying picnic in Mall Road.
