With majority of hotels remaining empty since July, tourism industry of Manali is bleeding like never before due to flood rumors as tourists are not able to muster courage to visit this hill station.

For the first time in years, Manali had the worst ever business on August 15 this year, whereas usually it used to be jam-packed. Neiather the hotels have advance bookings for Diwali or Dussehra holidays.

The entire Kullu valley so far had a safe and pleasant monsoon season with no flood or major landslides in any part of the district. It is for the first time in last many years that Delhi-Manali national highway was not damaged by any landslide. Despite these favorable conditions for holidays, tourists are maintaining a distance from this tourist resort as per a TOI report.

Baffled by the sinking tourism industry, Manali Hoteliers Association president Anup Thakur said, "Rumours have destroyed the monsoon tourist season completely. Hoteliers are still getting phone calls from clients, who are anxious to know if the situation is under control after floods and cloudbursts in Manali. We are surprised as to who spread such rumors, making crores of people think that floods have hit Manali."

The terrified tourists are still cancelling their bookings for Manali which has put the industry in deep trouble, he said. "We have suffered losses to the tune of crores of rupees. We have written to many agencies and clients that it is the best season in Manali, but that is not changing the situation," Thakur added.

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