Shimla, Oct. 3 -- Tourist footfall in Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla has increased sharply over the long weekend following the end of the rainy season, with tourism stakeholders reporting hotel occupancy of around 70-80 per cent and expressing optimism about business prospects during the upcoming festive and winter season.

With weather conditions turning pleasant after the prolonged rainy spell, tourists from neighbouring states and other parts of the country have started arriving in Shimla, leading to increased activity in hotels, restaurants, markets and other tourism-related businesses.

Naren Shahi, a local travel agent, told ANI in Shimla on Saturday that hotel occupancy in the hill station was currently between 70 and 80 per cen...