PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
Those associated with tourism activities in the picturesque lake city Nainital are a worried lot now with tourists increasingly shying away from it. “This is an extremely worrying trend for those who eke out living from tourism- related activities in Nainital,” noted a hotel owner despairingly. Things are really dismal: streets, markets, hotels and restaurants lack the usual hustle and bustle even on weekends.
Those involved in the tourism industry say that tourist arrivals have dropped significantly since the beginning of February. Businesses at hotels, taxis, restaurants and small shops are being affected, threatening the livelihoods of many families. They point out that the high toll taxes and parking fees levied upon those entering the lake city are putting a considerable financial burden on them and the upshot is that they are turning to nearby tourist destinations like Ramgarh, Mukteshwar and Jim Corbett National Park, giving a short shrift to once-bustling Nainital which used to see tourists all year round.
A local boatman, Narendra Singh Chauhan stated that business in Nainital had plummeted since February 1. Asked why things are so, he ascribed it to stiff rise in toll tax and parking fee. “A tourist has to pay Rs 300 as toll tax and Rs 500 as parking fee for entering the city which is negatively impacting tourist influx. They are thus being forced to explore nearby areas such as Ramgarh, Mukteshwar and Jim Corbett. Consequently, they are thriving there while we here are incurring losses,” he lamented. He urged the administration to reduce toll taxes and parking fees to bring tourists back to Nainital.
The general secretary of the Nainital Hotel and Restaurant Association, Ved Sah stated that the lake city had seen normal tourist footfalls in January. “However, things changed overnight in February. Compared to Nainital, Jim Corbett is experiencing significant tourist activity, attracting a significant number of visitors. This reverse trend is due to the hiked toll taxes and parking fees,” he asserted.
He further said that discussions had been previously held with the chairperson, Nainital Municipal Council. “We were assured of appropriate action at the next board meeting. But things did not happen,” he added.
Echoing the same concern, the general manager, Hotel Happy Home, Rajendra Singh Negi said that tourists are turning their back on the lakeside town on facing double whammy. “Once a tourist enters Mall Road after clearing the toll he is made to pay toll tax again. If this continues Nainital’s tourism will soon be wiped out,” he warned.
