SHIMLA: As the Chandigarh-Shimla and Chandigarh-Kiratpur-Manali Highways remain disruptive for normal traffic, hoteliers of Himachal have appealed to the Sukhu government and Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to enhance the "subsidized air flights" from cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, and others in Haryana to rope in tourists to Shimla and Manali to put the flood-hit tourism industry back on the rails.
Presently, only two flights operate between Chandigarh and Shimla, operating at a half capacity due to turbulence issues.
The inflow of weekend tourists from Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi further underscores the need for increased air connectivity.
The subsidizing airfares for a minimum of two years is vital, considering the ongoing highway restoration projects, which have resulted in massive losses to the tourism industry of Himachal Pradesh, said the hoteliers.
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They also demand the introduction of efficient Volvo Bus services from the these big cities to Shimla.
The recent natural disasters and snaping away of the two main national highways for over a month have severely impacted the tourism sector in Himachal Pradesh, prompting the need for swift measures to revive the industry.
Shimla Hotels and Tourism Stakeholders Association (SHTSA) has called on the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to collaborate with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to substantially increase air travel options.
SHTSA says the importance of bolstering air flights and heli-taxi services from key cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, and Haryana will bring in more tourists and facilitate movement of travellers including students, researches and the like.
There is no air flights from Shimla to Dehradun and vice versa. If the both the Sukhu and the Dhami state governmenta of Himachal and Uttarakhand collaborate and convince the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for the "subsided air flights between Shimla and Dehradun, both the states will reap huge benefits from tourism, facilitating the fast inter-state movement of people and tourists, researchers and students as well. 
With monsoon intensity subsiding, the tourism sector is poised for recovery but the national highways remain the major stumbling blocks, necessitating immediate efforts to attract visitors from major urban centers across India by air.
As you walk through The Mall in Shimla, you find empty restuarants, cafes, food courts and joints and empty hotels, with the owners finding it difficult to "pay the wages of their staff and maintenance charges".
Mohinder K Seth, President, SHTSA, stressed that a pivotal step towards rejuvenating the hospitality industry in Shimla, Manali, and surrounding regions would be the expanding of flights and Volvo bus services from outside cities.
The association has directed its appeal to the state government, urging intervention with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to subsidize airfares for flights connecting Shimla, Kangra, and Kullu.
Additionally, they propose the introduction of heli-taxi services from key towns in Punjab and Haryana, bolstering tourist footfall and hotel occupancy.
The tourism sector is a cornerstone of Himachal Pradesh's economy. It demands concerted efforts to promote growth, which in turn, will fortify stakeholders' financial well-being and contribute to government revenue.
Recognizing the urgency to enhance accessibility, the industry advocates for the launch of Volvo bus services between Shimla and significant cities in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttarakhand. This strategic initiative is expected to augment tourist arrivals while alleviating vehicular congestion.
As Himachal Pradesh aims to overcome the aftermath of natural calamities and restore its thriving tourism sector, the collaboration between stakeholders, government bodies, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation emerges as a critical pathway to recovery.
