Record 20.62 lakh tourist arrivals in Shimla, says DC

Shimla, May 5 (UNI) A record number of over 20.62 lakh tourists have already visited Himachal Pradesh's state capital Shimla from April to December this financial year as against 10.63 lakh during 2004-05, Shimla Deputy Commissioner Tarun Kapoor today said.

The number of tourists visiting the town had swelled to 20.62 lakh during the first nine months of 2006-07 in comparison to 18.22 lakh during the last financial year, he said, while chairing a meeting of Shimla Hotel Association and Beopar Mandal here.

The meeting had been called to review the arrangements made for the tourists in view of the summer rush to Shimla town and to ensure that the tourists were not put to any inconvenience during their stay here.

Mr Kapoor said in order to make the stay of the tourists comfortable and memorable, the district administration would create 13 additional parking lots during the summer season.

Besides, a special taxi service would continue to ply between Shimla Bus Stand and Central Telegraph Office from 0830 hrs to 2230 hrs, he said.

He said the hotel association's demand for allowing taxi service to ply between National Museum via bus stand and Chotta Shimla to Shimla Club would also be taken up with the state government.

Besides, he said, the administration would also try to impress upon the government to increase the timings of the lift from the present 2200 hrs to 2300 hrs.

The Shimla DC also urged upon the hotel and restaurant owners of the town to collect water from the selected water sources that have been identified by the Shimla Municipal Corporation only as water in several sources was found not fit for human consumption.

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