The tribal districts of Lahaul – Spiti and Kullu have banned entry of foreign and Indian tourists, besides all outsiders to the two districts to check human transmission of corona virus.
Several places in these two districts like Manali, Kullu, Manikaran, Keylong, Udaipur etc are popular tourist destinations and have become vulnerable with a large number of foreign and Indian tourists, besides pilgrims, visiting these places daily.
A large number of foreign tourists visit Chanderatal, Tabo and other monasteries and do trekking in Kullu and Lahaul –Spiti districts. Tourists from Tibet also come to pay obeisance in the Buddhist monasteries, especially the Tabo monastery.
State government had already sealed borders of the state and barricades have been raised on all entry points. The trains, Volvo bus services have been suspended and all passengers’ vehicles carrying tourists are returned back from the entry barriers.
After imposition of several restrictions on the movement of tourists to maintain social distancing in the wake of scare COVID-, Manali, the popular tourist destinations has become deserted.
The Manali administration has decided to closedown all hotels, restaurants, eateries and resorts from Monday- 23rd March and all hoteliers have asked tourists to leave the place by Saturday.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Manali after holding meeting with hoteliers, owners of eateries and taxi operators have asked them not to entertain tourists and keep their operations closed till March 31st.
Deputy Commissioner Kullu Richa Verma had ordered all hoteliers, restaurant and dhaba owners and other people to disinfect their premises on Saturday.
The elected panchayat representatives have also banned entry of all outsiders in Lahaul – Spiti district till April 30 and informed the district administration about the decision.
Bodh Raj running a hotel in Manali said , “ All people involved in tourism business are determined to strictly adhere to the directions of the state government as social distancing is most important for checking the spread of COVID and restricting entry of tourists is very important.”