War clouds send tourists scurrying home

According to sources, about two dozen foreigners have been streaming out of Manali everyday. Reports received here maintained that foreign tourists (especially the nationals of Australia, USA, UK and Israel) visiting Kullu-Manali, Dharamsala, Lahaul and Spiti, Vashishat, Manikaran and Dhungri have been directed by their embassies to return home , in case they get trapped in the event of outbreak of hostilities..

This comes as the second blow to the tourism industry in HP after Godhra. The happenings in Gujarat hit the inflow of domestic tourists — Gujaratis account for a large percentage of visitors to HP. ‘‘The Government should take steps at the diplomatic level to check the exodus of foreign tourists who enable Himachal Pradesh to earn foreign currency,’’ said Gupta Ram Thakur, hotelier from Vashishat village.

‘‘With the opening of the Manali-Leh road for light vehicles, the business of trekking agencies was expected to pick up. Now with the tourists leaving, organisers of these expeditions are in a fix,’’ said C. Lal, a tour operator from Manali.