The summer season has set in a tad early this year in most parts of the country, pushing several people to head to Himachal Pradesh to beat the summer heat. It has brought cheer to the hospitality industry which had been crippled due to the COVID–19 outbreak.
In Totu, the sub–urban area of Shimla, Rajesh Sharma, running a budget hotel, is overjoyed with the rush of guests over the past fortnight. “It’s the first time since I started the hotel business in March 2020, when the first nationwide lockdown was announced, that my hotel is running to full capacity. Usually, the tourist season begins at the fag end of April, but thanks to the early summer, a lot of tourists have been visiting the hill town since the beginning of March itself. Also, earlier it was only the “walk–in” tourists who were visiting during the weekends, but now there’s a regular influx of visitors. I have an advance reservation for all my rooms till June,” said Mr. Sharma on Saturday.
Mr. Sharma is also hopeful that with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the hard–pressed sector will gradually revive from the jolt it suffered. Several others in the hospitality sector including taxi drivers, tourist guides, ‘dhabas’ and restaurants are also pinning their hopes on the hotel business returning to normal.
