BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma accuses Sukhu government of conspiracy to sell Himachal tourism hotels to foreign companies

Shimla: The closure of 18 Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) hotels has sparked a political row, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that the Congress-led state government intentionally weakened its stance in the Himachal Pradesh High Court to pave the way for their sale to foreign firms. The Himachal Pradesh High Court ordered the closure of 18 HPTDC hotels on Tuesday, citing low occupancy rates and continued financial losses.The court’s directive, issued by Justice Ajay Mohan Goyal, mandates that these 18 properties, located in prime tourist destinations like Dharamshala, Manali, Keylong, Solan, Kullu and Khajjiar, cease operations by November 25. Among the establishments set to close is the iconic Chail Palace, along with Hotel Dhauladhar in Dharamshala and Log Huts in Manali. The court found these hotels to be “white elephants” and described their management and maintenance as financially unsustainable given the consistently low occupancy rates.In response, BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma has come out strongly against the government. In a statement, Sharma alleged, “It is unfortunate for our hill state that the high court has given orders to close 18 prestigious hotels of Himachal tourism department. It is common talk that the government deliberately weakened the case so that this property could be sold to foreign groups.” Sudhir Sharma contended that if the government had robustly defended the corporation’s interests, the closures could have been prevented.The HPTDC’s Managing Director has been held responsible for implementing the court’s directive and must submit a compliance affidavit by December 3. The high court noted that of the 56 hotels operated by the HPTDC, many have struggled with low occupancy rates. For instance, the Chail Palace had an occupancy rate of just 28.39% in 2022, dropping further to 24.42% and 26.26% in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Meanwhile, only a few hotels, including Hotel Hamir in Hamirpur and Hotel Jwalaji, showed occupancy above 50%.The court’s order comes amid frequent state pleas of financial crisis. “When the occupancy in them is constantly low, what is the benefit of running them?” the court questioned, labeling the low-performing properties as a “kind of wasteful expenditure.”The BJP has turned this issue into a political flashpoint, with Sharma calling the closures “a deliberate attempt to diminish Himachal’s tourism potential” and alleging that the state government intends to hand over the properties to foreign entities for profit. The BJP’s allegations have intensified the scrutiny on Congress’s approach to tourism management, highlighting an ongoing debate over whether HPTDC should prioritise profitability or maintain state-run facilities for tourists at a loss.For now, the future of the 18 HPTDC hotels remains uncertain, and the ruling has set off a wider debate on the sustainability of state-owned tourism ventures in Himachal Pradesh. As political tensions escalate, the government faces increasing pressure to clarify its strategy for managing tourism assets amid claims of financial irresponsibility and alleged favoritism toward foreign investment.