Shot in the arm for hotel industry

Dharamsala, May 10
With only a few days left for Dharamsala to host IPL matches, it’s boom time for the local hotel industry. Government and private hotels are already flooded with advance bookings for IPL matches scheduled for May 15, 17 and 21.
With people making online bookings, most of the hotels have been booked during the period of IPL matches. While the stadium has the seating capacity of around 20,000, hotels in Dharamshala have limited capacity.
Last year during the IPL matches, accommodation remained a big problem which forced people to head towards far-off places like Kangra and Palampur. Quite familiar with the situation, most of the cricket buffs and tourists have already booked rooms in advance a month before the matches are to be played.
Kuldeep Patial, president, Hotel Association, Dharamsala, advised the tourists to come to Dharamsala only if they have prior booking of rooms. He said: “In the days to come, it will be impossible for people coming to the town without having prior hotel booking to find a decent place to stay in the town”.
He also mentioned that hotels were offering special packages for IPL matches.
Raman Gupta, owner of a resort and a guest house at Dharamsala and Mcleodganj, respectively, said: “Both of his properties have been booked in advance for the matches. It’s boom time for us and we’ll do our best to host our guests”.