With the G20 Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 9-10, and an extended weekend for the Delhiites in the offing during that time, it is bringing cheer to the tourism industry in Kasauli, with many hoteliers recording a sudden increase of bookings and booking enquiries. While the hoteliers claim that the strict traffic and movement curbs by the Delhi government owing to the security issues during the G20 Summit in Delhi is luring the Delhiietes to move out to Kasauli, it being the nearest hill station, the Solan administration claims that with the restoration of the Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway NH05, it is safe to travel to the hills now.
It was some time back when the Solan administration, including the police department, had issued various advisories through the Mohali and Panchkula police and their own social media channels requesting tourists not to travel to Kasauli hills and avoid travelling to hills after the Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway NH05 was blocked near Chakki Mor following the incessant rain in the state during the recent monsoons. The traffic movement was restored at NH 05 recently for all tyoes of vehicles.
Talking to The Indian Express, Rajender Chopra, president of Kasauli Hotel and Welfare Association, said, “With the G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi this month, various institutions, including some government organisations, and many roads are closed there with the Delhi government having issued various advisories in this regard. Due to this, many Delhiiets are coming to Kasauli now. A large number of fresh bookings and enquiries have come in from 6th of September to 10th of September. As of now 40% to 50% hotels are already booked. This will be a great boost to the tourism industry of Kasauli.”
“We, through various channels, are spreading a word to all the tourists that travelling to hills is quite safe with the improvement in weather conditions and restoration of the Chandigarh Shimla National Highway at Chakki Mor. Also, many attractive discounts and offers are being made by different hotels. We consider the present inflow of tourists to be our first batch after the rain fury. Many tourists were scared to travel to hills after the havoc caused by the recent rain.”
Chopra added that if the present situation continues, Kasauli will be bounce back to its normal in another few weeks.
Requesting anonymity, another hotelier of Kasauli said, “The Delhi government, owing to the G20 summit, has declared a holiday on September 8. The G20 summit is to be held on September 9 and 10. Also, September 6 or 7 is Janmashtami making it an extended weekend. The G20 summit, various curbs on the traffic movement and security-related issues are prompting the Delhiites, especially the families with kids and young couples, to move out of Delhi. They are the ones who are making most of the enquiries and bookings in various hotels of Kasauli.”
Ved Garg, chief Congress spokesperson, Solan, and also one of the hoteliers of Kasauli, said, “The damaged National Highway and various roads of Kasauli have been restored now and the weather has also improved with the monsoon having become weak. It is safe for the tourists to come to Kasauli now. The tourism industry of Kasauli is all set to welcome its tourists once again now”.
Talking to The Indian Express, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Solan, Ajay Yadav said, “The weather has improved now and also the Chandigarh Shimla National Highway has been restored at Chakki Mor recently. It is now safe for the tourists to travel and come to Himachal Pradesh. Even the hoteliers of Solan through their various channels are spreading a word that the tourists are welcome back to Kasauli and it is safe to travel to Kasauli now.”
Hotels at Kasauli all decked up again as a large number of fresh bookings and enquiries have come. (Express File Photo) 
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