Nainital’s Hospitality Sector Struggles as Visitor Numbers Plummet in November

November 9 – The iconic hill resort of Nainital witnessed an unexpected lull during the Diwali break. Hotel owners, even after offering up to 50 % price reductions, saw occupancy rates cling to a low 10‑20 % range.

Digvijay Singh Bist, president of the Nainital Hotel & Restaurant Association, pointed out that October‑November historically represent the peak tourist window for the region. In earlier years, the city welcomed throngs from West Bengal and, more recently, a growing influx from Gujarat and Maharashtra.

This year the scenario flipped. Gujarati tourists were completely absent and the numbers from Bengal fell sharply. Bist blamed the abrupt fall on recent administrative measures, particularly a mandatory online registration for anyone visiting the nearby pilgrimage site of Kamchi Dham.

The registration directive was announced without specifying the online portal, the start date or the required documentation. Consequently, potential visitors remain uncertain and are reluctant to travel to Nainital.

Hotel manager Rajendra Singh Negi criticized the lack of a clear SOP from the police. While authorities promised new traffic diversions and safety protocols, none have been published, leaving operators in the dark.

Negi’s property, which houses 35‑40 rooms, currently has only three rooms occupied. The same trend is evident across the town’s accommodation network, affecting boat owners, laborers, taxi drivers, bike‑taxi operators, and the sizable portion of Uttarakhand’s population employed in the hospitality sector.

Repeated appeals from the hotel association, led by Bist, have so far received no concrete response. Industry players argue that without definitive guidelines, tourism will continue to decline, jeopardising livelihoods. They remain hopeful that rising pollution levels in Delhi and surrounding NCR districts will later drive more travelers toward cleaner hill stations, but the present situation remains discouraging.