After a Prolonged Slump, Kullu-Manali Hoteliers Hope Dussehra Festival Will Revive Tourism

Hoteliers in the Kullu-Manali region are optimistic that tourism will get back on track after months of slowdown, as the week-long International Kullu Dussehra festival is set to begin on October 2. The hospitality sector in this popular hill destination has been struggling since June 30, when a series of devastating cloudbursts in the Seraj area of Mandi district claimed 42 lives and caused widespread destruction.

The disaster created fear among tourists, leading to mass cancellations and a sharp decline in bookings. According to hotel operators, room bookings in Kullu and Manali remained below 10 percent throughout September, a stark contrast to previous years when the period typically saw a heavy influx of visitors.

The prolonged monsoon worsened the crisis, causing significant damage to road infrastructure, particularly on the Kiratpur-Manali highway connecting Mandi and Manali. Local stakeholders say the disruption of this vital route has pushed the tourism-dependent economy of Kullu and Manali to the brink.

Anup Thakur, Chairman of the Kullu-Manali Tourism Development Board, and Gajendra Thakur, former President of the Manali Hoteliers Association, expressed concern over the prolonged slump in tourism. Anup Thakur said, “Hotel bookings are very low at the moment, but we hope the upcoming Kullu Dussehra will draw tourists in large numbers and give the industry a much-needed boost.”

Buddhi Prakash Thakur, President of the Himachal Pradesh Travel Agents Association, emphasized the urgent need to resume the Volvo bus service on the Kiratpur-Manali highway. The service has been suspended since the road was damaged at the end of June, discouraging tourists from visiting the region.

He added, “Traffic on the highway between Mandi and Manali has been temporarily restored. The district administrations of Mandi and Kullu should test the Volvo bus service on this route. Once the service resumes, we are confident that tourist arrivals in Manali will gradually return to normal.”

The Kullu Dussehra festival is one of Himachal Pradesh’s largest cultural events. Thousands of domestic and international tourists are expected to attend, bringing renewed hope to the region’s struggling tourism sector.