As we celebrate World Tourism Day, the dream is of that day when the hill State makes a permanent mark on the world tourism map. That day is worth aspiring for
There cannot be a better year to start a new wave of tourism than 2017, which has been declared as the international year for sustainable tourism development by the United Nations. For Himachal Pradesh, this is an opportunity to permanently etch its mark on world tourism map.
Tourism is one of the most dynamic economic sectors in modern times.
It encompasses all aspects of human life while creating space for descent jobs, gender equality and cultural intermingling. Today, tourism is the largest services industry in India. And why shouldn’t it beIJ We have a different culture, dialect and food variety after every 100 kilometres.
There are three biodiversity hotspots in India, seven natural heritage sites and 28 cultural heritage sites. That apart, thousands of years of history behind us has left India a rich legacy of tourist destinations not just for foreigners but also Indians keen on understanding their country.
Himachal Pradesh is a State that is the crowning jewel in Indian tourism map. Recognising the beauty of Himachal Pradesh, British made Shimla their summer capital. Today, Himachal Pradesh is known as ‘a destination for all seasons and all reasons’. The average footfall to Himachal Pradesh has been more than a crore since the last 10 years. People frustrated from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungles are finding increasingly, peace of mind in the dev bhoomi.
However, this heavy inflow of tourists has also led to severe pressure on Himachal Pradesh’s ecology. One of the reasons for this is the concentration of a few tourist destinations. Moreover, there is a serious need to create the right policy framework and, consequently, an ecosystem around tourism in Himachal Pradesh to make it sustainable and take tourism to higher economic and ecological spheres.
The principle of sustainable tourism is defined as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”. So, we need to develop a mechanism which involves Himachalis, tourists and Government officers.
The first step here will be in developing a tourism research institute which will do cutting edge research in tourism’s various branches, like finance, destination experiences, ecological balance and the likes. This can be developed with the help of several global institutions developed for similar purposes.
Second, we will need to analyse the people who are dissociated from the industry — the weak and the poor — and connect them to the industry. This process will ensure economic sustainability of people in Himachal Pradesh. Adequate financial support through start-up funds and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises loans need to be set up to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to run businesses that promote tourism.
A parallel system of skill development for guides, hoteliers, digital marketers, and other service providers is a sure way of making tourism in Himachal Pradesh more professional and global. Here, the State can collaborate with such countries as New Zealand and Switzerland, which have successfully developed tourism as a sustainable mode of business and employment.
By 2022, I want to see at least all the public transportation in Himachal Pradesh becoming hybrid/ electric and, eventually, along with the country, we can shift even the personal transportations to electric by 2030.
Importantly, it is needed to increase avenues for tourism in Himachal Pradesh to ease the pressure from the most visited ones. We need to take tourism to each village, promote trekking and hiking. There is also a need to develop infrastructure for kayaking and canoeing on the beautiful streams of our State.
We also need to revive the many forts that are lying unused in Himachal Pradesh and create light and sound shows around them showing the rich regal legacy of Himachal Pradesh. These will be the new tourist destinations which will ease the pressure on existing ones.
In our vibrant spiritual centres, I would like to see new sustainable pilgrimage experiences. Taking cue from Vaishno Devi and Venkateswara temple, Tirupati, we need to digitalise ticketing, optimise darshan and sustainable prashad making and consumption. Also, there is a need to develop eco-tourist zones around these temples like lakes with unique fish species, boating, Ayurvedic centres and the likes. This will add to the spiritual experience of the temples.
Himachal Pradesh is also seen as vir bhoomi. And, I wish to see a giant statue of India’s first Param Vir Chakra awardee Major Somnath Sharma over a hill with a fort, even decrepit; this fort can be refurbished into a marvellous martyr’s memorial. The statue will be awe-inspiring to the tourists who will visit that place.
Apart from tourism, this will serve to motivate more youngsters to join the Armed Forces. Moreover, with a rich history of various royal lineages, spiritual stalwarts, religious places and British heritage, Himachal Pradesh deserves some very wonderful museums which are of global standards.
Himachal Pradesh is a place of great sports personalities. Then undoubtedly, we need to have sports tourism in the State as the newest address of Himachal Pradesh tourism. We can have an annual winter Olympics which will lead to the creation of world-class sporting facilities. Here, participants from other States and people from countries friendly to India can come and take training. In fact, India can bid for winter Olympics to be hosted in Himachal Pradesh, once the required infrastructure are set in place.
But all these needs to be undertaken with ecological sustainability in mind. The banning of plastic has to be enforced properly with alternatives available to tourists and commoners alike. Water and energy are the two resources which are in great demand, but their generation is becoming increasing difficult.
This means that we have to use them judiciously while focusing on their conservation and reuse. One way of doing this will be through certification of global standards in energy and water efficiency, for all the important building in Himachal Pradesh.
As we just celebrated the World Tourism Day on September 27, I perhaps see only one dream that day when people will compare tourist destinations, old and new, around the world with Himachal Pradesh; of a certain destination in Europe as the Himachal of Europe! That day, for sure will be the day when our State would have made a permanent mark on the world tourism map and that day is worth aspiring for.
(The writer is Member of Parliament, lok Sabha)
