The numbers paint a concerning picture. While Manali’s legal tourism infrastructure includes over 1,000 registered hotels and 300 homestays, with the Manali Hoteliers Association itself having 685 members, a vast parallel, unregulated economy has taken root. The scale of the issue was exposed when a joint team of the administration, tourism, revenue, forest, and police departments shut down 45 homestays, hotels and camping sites running without registration in Kasol.This operation in the Parbati valley was just the tip of the iceberg. Officials have acknowledged the malpractice, stating that these unregistered operations are directly hurting the local economy and depriving the government of significant tax revenue.The issue is not just about unregistered guesthouses.
मुख्य विवरण
A more insidious practice involves the long-term leasing of properties to outsiders. Local beneficiaries of the tourism industry are deeply concerned by this growing trend, which they argue defies the purpose of the Himachal Pradesh Land Reforms and Tenancy Act, legislation specifically designed to protect the state’s land and its people.Businessmen from other states have taken tourism units on lease in the suburbs of Manali, the Parbati valley and the Banjar areas. A tourism entrepreneur, Aditya, notes that while established hubs like Manali and Kasol have long been impacted, emerging destinations such as the Tirthan valley, Jibhi, Shoja and Bahu are now being overtaken. Locals fear that without intervention, these pristine areas will soon lose their cultural identity and environmental integrity.This exploitation is enabled by a legal loophole.
The lease agreements are often unregistered and lack proper documentation, allowing lessees to conduct commercial activities completely unchecked. The local communities report that these properties are being turned into profit-driven ventures controlled by non-residents, a practice that is actively squeezing out local people.The economic impact is severe. Established hoteliers like Hemraj of Manali allege that large properties, flouting room-capacity rules, are illegally operating as homestays. This unchecked practice, they contend, distorts the tourism market, creates an uneven playing field and causes significant revenue loss to the state exchequer.While legal operators pay taxes and registration fees, the illegal lessees often avoid them entirely.
पृष्ठभूमि और प्रभाव
One local, Jai Chand, added that these outsiders are “spoiling the existing rates by providing accommodation at a meager price by compromising the quality,” making it impossible for locals who adhere to the rules to compete.Furthermore, the unregulated use of these properties for commercial activities has led to severe overcrowding and ecological strain, particularly in fragile regions like the Great Himalayan National Park. As tourism beneficiary Kishan pointed out, “Himachali residents are finding themselves excluded as outsiders take over prime properties, undermining local opportunities in the tourism sector”.Recognising the gravity of the situation, authorities have begun to take action. The District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO) of Kullu, Rohit Sharma, recently conducted a two-day inspection and regular checking campaign in the famous Jibhi Valley. Accompanied by his field staff, the DTDO inspected various tourism units, homestays, hotels and adventure tourism activities.During the inspection, several units were found operating without permission and in violation of rules.
After the campaign, a detailed meeting was held with the Jibhi Valley Tourism Development Association to discuss maintaining the region as a model for responsible and sustainable tourism.The crisis in Kullu is a stark reminder that tourism development cannot come at the cost of law and local well-being. The state government has formed a Cabinet sub-committee to crack down on illegal hospitality units, which are estimated to number in the thousands. There are also discussions to ban non-Himachalis from running homestays on land purchased under the relaxation of Section 118, as it was intended for self-use, not commercial activity.As tourist interest in destinations like Tirthan, Jibhi and Bahu grows, the state must act to ensure its laws protect local communities and the environment. Without immediate and stringent action, these emerging destinations risk losing their unique identity to the same over-commercialisation that has caused such damage to places like Manali and Kasol.
The government’s continued silence on the issue of exploitative leasing is not just a failure of governance, it is an active threat to Himachal’s heritage and future.The Baisakhi Sale Plan offers an excellent value of 2 years of subscription + 6 months complimentary.If you proceed with this purchase, your current monthly subscription plan will be immediately cancelled.
