With the monsoon yet to arrive in north India, Himachal Pradesh is witnessing a sharp surge in tourist inflow, pushing weekend hotel occupancy beyond 80 per cent and reviving concerns over overcrowding and the strain of what many describe as “insane, uncontrolled tourism”, particularly in Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala.The influx has packed popular destinations such as Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Kasauli and Chail, while tourists are increasingly venturing into the tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur.”The average occupancy over the last weekend was between 80 and 90 per cent, while on weekdays it is reaching between 60 and 70 per cent,” said Gajender Thakur, president of the Federation of Himachal Hotels and Restaurant Associations told PTI.He said the association was encouraging visitors to respect the traditions and culture of “Dev Bhoomi” Himachal Pradesh while enjoying the state’s scenic beauty.However, the heavy tourist rush has once again brought the spotlight on Shimla’s chronic traffic snarls, overcrowded public spaces and the mounting pressure on civic infrastructure.The iconic Mall Road and adjoining areas have remained packed with visitors and vehicles, with locals complaining that the swelling footfall has not translated into a proportionate increase in business.”The tourist rush is there, but quality tourists with spending capacity are not coming to Himachal,” said Ranjit, a salesman at a shop on Shimla’s Mall Road.”A large number of vehicles are coming and there is a huge crowd on the Mall Road, but sales have not gone up,” he added.Tourism stakeholders say that while the state offers a wide range of attractions—from adventure sports and nature tourism to pilgrimage circuits, the experience is often marred by long traffic jams during peak seasons.”Traffic jams discourage tourists, and deploying additional police personnel at bottlenecks could resolve the problem to some extent,” Thakur said.He also linked smoother traffic management with maintaining law and order, especially in the wake of recent incidents involving altercations between tourists and locals.”Heavy police deployment creates a sense of security and keeps anti-social elements in check,” he said.According to industry representatives, most visitors at present are from neighbouring north Indian states, while tourists from western states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra have not arrived in significant numbers.The surge in arrivals has reignited debate over sustainable tourism in Himachal, with residents and experts warning that unchecked visitor numbers, especially in Shimla, could put further stress on roads, parking facilities, water supply and waste management systems during the busy summer season. PTI inputs