Prolonged war may keep Israelis away, hit HP’s summer tourism

Kullu: There are very few Israelis who are staying in Kullu and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh, but if the war drags on, it may impact tourism in the state.Israelis mostly visit Kullu from May to Aug and leave thereafter. In Kullu district, most of them stay in Kasol, Pulga, Kalga, and Tosh villages of the Parvati valley, and in Old Manali. "There are hardly any Israeli nationals in the district. Most of them left in winter. The few who are presently in the district are those who stayed here for a long time," said Ram Lal, who runs a guest house in Pulga village in the Parvati valley.
"There were one-two Israelis in Kasol. I am not sure if even they are here these days. Most Israelis arrive in Kasol at the beginning of summer and leave by Oct," said Ranjit, who runs a hotel in Kasol.According to Manali DSP K D Sharma, even the Chabad House, a Jewish community in Manali, has been closed since Oct. "Israelis usually start visiting Manali in summer. Presently, we don't have any information if any Israeli is stuck in the town due to the war," said Sharma.There are not too many Israelis staying in Dharamkot either, also called ‘mini-Israel', near Dharamshala.According to Bhuvnesh Thakur, a Manali-based veteran search and rescue expert who is also in the tourism business, a prolonged war could result in losses to the tourism industry. "The months from May to July are critical when foreign nationals, especially Israelis, visit Kullu, Manali, Kasol, Lahaul-Spiti, and then move on to Leh and Kinnaur. Thousands of Israelis remain for months, especially in Parvati valley. If they are not able to come in the coming months, it would cause a big setback to the local tourism economy," said Thakur.In Oct 2023, over 50 Israelis who were holidaying in Parvati valley had to cut short their trip due to the war with Palestine. Before it, over 400 Israeli tourists were stranded in Kullu district in July 2023 following a flood in the Beas and flash floods in the Parvati valley. They were evacuated later with other foreign travellers.45k from HP stuck in GulfMeanwhile, over 45,000 people from Himachal Pradesh are believed to be stuck in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman due to the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel.In a recent post, PWD minister Vikramaditya Singh expressed concern and sympathy for all Himachalis there. He said that families whose members are stranded in any Middle East country could contact the govt at 0177-2808600 for any assistance, guidance, or coordination. "We are committed to extending all possible support with seriousness and sensitivity, and we will continue to coordinate with the central govt and agencies concerned to ensure the safe return of our Himachali sons and daughters," he said in his post.It is estimated that more than 9 million Indians live and work across Middle East. With increasing tensions in the region, temporary closure of airspace in some areas, and unstable security conditions, many Indian nationals find themselves in a state of uncertainty. Expressing serious concern over the situation, Vikramaditya Singh took to his social media platform to voice his apprehension. He stated that the state govt is sensitive to the safety of all Himachali citizens and is committed to providing every possible assistance. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !