Himachal Considers Promoting Lesser-known Tourist Spots with New Policy
With the number of tourists increasing rapidly after recovering from the impact of the Covid pandemic, the government of Himachal Pradesh is planning to introduce a new tourism policy.
With the number of tourists increasing rapidly after recovering from the impact of the Covid pandemic, the government of Himachal Pradesh is planning to introduce a new tourism policy. The main focus of this policy will be to promote lesser-known destinations within the state. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu announced this decision after chairing a meeting with the tourism department to assess ongoing projects in the state. The chief minister stated that the government aims to attract a tourist influx of five crore people within the next five years, up from the current three crore. Sukhu emphasized the need to utilize the natural beauty of Himachal to its fullest potential in order to attract more tourists. He mentioned that around 72 lakh tourists had already visited Himachal Pradesh by May 2023. To accurately measure the number of tourists visiting the state, the tourism department has been instructed to develop a data collection mechanism and improve infrastructure to provide essential amenities for visitors. The chief minister stressed the significance of marketing and optimizing the staff in the tourism department to enhance the facilities provided to tourists. During the review of projects aimed at developing Kangra district as a tourism hub, the chief minister directed the department to prepare a concept paper for further consideration. These projects include a roller skating rink in Sakoh, a golf course in Paragpur, a high-end resort in Menjha, a tourism village in Narghota, and the proposed Aero City in Kangra. Additionally, the government plans to establish a theme-based satellite village at Naura Khad in the Nagrota Bagwan assembly segment of Kangra district. The government is also working on expanding the Kangra airport, constructing a greenfield airport in Nagchala, Mandi district, and building new heliports across the state. Currently, nine heliports are being constructed in the first phase, including Jaskot in Hamirpur district, Rakkar and Palampur in Kangra district, Sultanpur in Chamba district, Manali in Kullu district, Jispa, Sissu, and Rangrik in Lahaul-Spiti district, and Sharbo in Kinnaur district. The remaining seven heliports will be constructed in the second phase.
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