The recent spate of tourist attack incidents in Himachal Pradesh has put the state on the defensive, with authorities and tourism industry stakeholders emphasizing that these are isolated cases and not reflective of the overall hospitality towards visitors.
The incidents include a Spanish NRI couple allegedly assaulted in Chamba district, an Assistant Sub-Inspector of Chandigarh Police involved in a heated argument with local police in Chamba, and a road rage incident in Sirmaur district where a local tractor driver was thrashed by men in an SUV with a Punjab registration.
While the state police have lodged FIRs and initiated investigations into these cases, tourism associations have demanded in-depth probes, maintaining that the ”one-sided narratives” should not be blindly accepted. They have also urged tourists to follow proper etiquette instead of indulging in anti-social activities.
Abhishek Trivedi, ADGP (Law & Order) of Himachal Pradesh, termed the incidents ”unfortunate” and advised against spreading unverified information on social media. He said the state police is procuring body-worn cameras for cops, especially those deployed at tourist destinations, to bring more transparency.
Dr. Ashwani Kumar, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Himachal Pradesh University, offered a different perspective. He said the aggression of tourists has increased recently, and social media has become a tool for spreading misinformation. He emphasized that the onus lies on the host and the locals to handle the situations on their own.
Mukesh Thakur, a member of the Kull-Manali Hotel Association, said the June 17 incident at Nurpr in Kangra district was triggered when a local hotel owner expressed his inability to rent out a room to the guests due to full occupancy. He said the guests should have inquired about availability in another hotel instead of resorting to vandalism. Thakur also highlighted the issue of parking, especially during peak tourist seasons, as a major problem at major destinations.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Yadav of Chamba district provided details on the investigation into the alleged assault on the Spanish NRI couple. He said their initial probe suggested that the ”victims” Kanwaljeet Singh and his brother had pretended to be palm readers and reportedly held the hands of women, including some tourists, leading to the locals’ outrage. However, since the couple lodged a zero FIR with the Punjab Police, which was forwarded to Chamba for investigation, a regular FIR was lodged on charges of illegal confinement, assault, and criminal intimidation.
Regarding the June 9 incident involving ASI Paramjeet Singh of Chandigarh Police, SP Yadav said the policeman had parked his SUV on the wrong side of the road, and when a local cop asked him to remove it, he declined and engaged in heated arguments. The SP clarified that there was no physical assault, and the probe is ongoing.
According to the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, more than 74.64 lakh tourists visited Himachal Pradesh until May this year, including 32,415 foreign tourists.
The tourism industry stakeholders have emphasized that the people of Himachal Pradesh, whose economy largely depends on tourism, would never want to harm the visitors. They have urged the state government to upgrade and improve infrastructure, especially in terms of parking and crowd management, to address the issues faced by both tourists and locals.
The recent incidents have also sparked a political row, with leaders from Punjab, including the NIR Affairs Minister, Amritsar MP, and Akali leader, demanding action from the Himachal Pradesh government. They have even suggested that the attack on the Punjabi NIR couple in Dalhousie was linked to the recent incident involving actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who was allegedly slapped by a CISF woman constable at Chandigarh airport.
Kangana Ranaut had recently accused the CISF constable of slapping her and abusing her, claiming that it was due to her support for the farmer protests. The constable was suspended, and an FIR was lodged in the matter.
The tourism industry in Himachal Pradesh has been on a recovery path after facing disruptions due to heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides in mid-2023, which caused losses worth Rs 9,905.77 crore and claimed more than 200 lives.
Despite these challenges, the state recorded a 6% increase in tourist arrivals in 2023, with 1.60 crore tourists, including 62,806 foreigners, visiting the state compared to 1.51 crore tourists, including 29,333 foreigners, in 2022.
The officials attributed this recovery to a boost in infrastructure and the addition of new tourist spots, such as the Atal Tunnel (Rohtang), which has emerged as a popular destination. Besides the prominent tourist spots, the state also witnesses a perennial flow of visitors to the “Shakti paths” in various districts.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu has set a target of attracting five crore tourists annually, and the state government is working to improve infrastructure to achieve this goal.
In conclusion, the recent tourist attack incidents in Himachal Pradesh have put the state on the defensive, with authorities and tourism industry stakeholders emphasizing that these are isolated cases and not reflective of the overall hospitality towards visitors. The state has been working to address the infrastructure and crowd management challenges to provide a better experience for tourists, and the recovery in tourist arrivals in 2023 suggests that the efforts are bearing fruit. However, the state government and the tourism industry must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing any issues that may arise to maintain the state’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination for visitors.
