08/05/2012
McLeodganj, attracts most foreign tourists all through the year but precious little has been done to tap its tourism potential.
Hotels, especially small ones, are ill-maintained and unhygienic; the food is costly and below standard so is the transportation. “The taxi owners loot us because of tourist are not aware of local conditions” says an American tourist, Chris Thomos, adding that even the tourist information centre does not help foreigners. Dal Lake, located at a height in Mcleodganj, has lost the pious touch due to the disposal of refuse and filth into it by the institutions around. Residents of Dharamsala have undertaken cleaning-up operations but the plight of the lake is yet to catch the attention of the Tourism Department.
The plan of setting up a ropeway between Dharamkot and Triund and the key towns in the valley is still hanging fire. The area has good scope for adventure tourism. Place like Jwalamukhi, Kangra, Chintpurni, which have popular temples, fail to sustain the interest of visitors due to lack of adequate accommodation.
There is no evidence to suggest that the authorities have any plans to address themselves to these problems.
