Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said the Forest Department possesses around 450 rest houses across the state and these can be utilized to promote eco-tourism efforts for sustainable tourism development of the state. 

He said that several eco-tourism sites were being identified and an allotment process was currently underway and as of now, seven eco-tourism sites have been allocated and the allotment process for an additional 78 sites was set to commence shortly.

Sukhu virtually laid the foundation stone of Forest Rest House to be constructed at Sara Gadakufar in Theog, district Shimla and  said this region has immense potential for tourism and eco-tourism and a large number of tourists visit Sara Gadakufar annually to witness and experience its pristine natural beauty. He said that despite the vast tourism potential, there was no rest house facility available within a 25-kilometre radius of this area.  

He said that in the past two years, afforestation activities have been carried out over 600 hectares of barren hills and slopes and local communities were actively involved in these efforts.
"The government has set a target to undertake plantation activities on 5,000 hectares of forest land during the financial year 2025–26 and approximately 60 percent of the saplings will be fruit-bearing and of other economically beneficial species," he said, adding, this would not only enhance biodiversity but also help contain wildlife within forested areas and reduce human- animal conflict.