Y.S. Rana,Chandigarh, Jan 25 : If the number of tourists, especially foreigners, coming to Chandigarh during 2010 is any indication, Chandigarh Tourism seems to have defied doomsayers and bucked the trend. Across the country, the global meltdown and swine flu scare, have dented the tourist inflow and fortunes of the hotel industry.
But Chandigarh Tourism is singing a different hospitality tune. Interestingly, there has been a surge in the number of foreign tourists coming to Chandigarh. According to an official of Tourism Department, Chandigarh, during 2010, 39,300 foreign tourists had visited Chandigarh compared to 37,967 in 2009 and 34,000 in 2008. There are in all 41 hotels in Chandigarh, including three in the state sector: Hotel Shivalik View, Hotel Mount View and Hotel Park View are run by the Administration. These have reported good business during the year.
So far as domestic tourists are concerned, the number has crossed a figure of 9 lacs as per the occupancy register of various hotels and guest houses in city, However this data did not take into account foreign and domestic tourists who had visited the city from near by places or passed through the city spending some time for sight seeing
and excursions purposes, the official stated
The occupancy level in the administration-run- hotels has also shown ascending graph. The number of nights spent in Chandigarh by foreign and domestic tourists in October and November 2010 has been 5211 and 5311 respectively. There are encouraging signs of revival and Tourism authorities are hopeful of sustaining the positive trend.
Ms Amandeep Kaur, GM, CITCO, Chandigarh, attributed the rise in the inflow of foreign tourists to the efforts made by the Chandigarh Administration in upgrading the existing infrastructure and introducing the concept of affordable and reasonably priced budget despite sky high eatables prices. “Majority of the tourists look for budget accommodation and we are trying to promote this concept so that we can provide clean and affordable stay to foreigners and domestic touritsts,” Ms Kaur said.
The tourists from UK, France, Italy, Canada, UAE, Pakistan, USA, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, Switzerland, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other SAARC Nations, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Iran had visited the City. During November-December 2010, 2931 tourists visited the City from UK followed by 1162 tourists from Germany and 1116 tourists from United States respectively
The Tourists statistics with regard to the arrival of
tourists and bed night spent by them have been collected by the Tourism Department from hotels and guest houses. Hotels and Guest Houses have been directed by the Administration to submit their statistics reports to the department at the end of every month. The form contains details such as the number of rooms and number of beds which are available, and its occupancy by tourists during the month,” a tourism department official said. The form also contains the details of the tourists about their nationality in case of foreign tourists
Chandigarh is known for green and gardens. To further give a boost to the eco friendliness of the city, Tte Government of India has sanctioned RS 25 crore booster dose to the Tourism in Chandigarh which includes construction of Tourism Bhavan in Sector 17, illumination of the Rock Garden, Hospitality, tourism related courses for schools, multilevel parking at ISBT 43. Continuing with the efforts for promoting city as Green Chandigarh, the Ministry of tourism has sanctioned funds as Central Financial Assistance for setting up of Theme Parks like Garden of Palms, Garden of Conifers, etc in the city.