Imagine walking amidst the clouds, surrounded by the majestic beauty of Himachal Pradesh’s valleys. Soon, this dream will become a reality with the construction of a ‘Sky Walk Bridge’ in the picturesque Hassan Valley near Kufri. This is just one of the many ambitious projects planned by the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to boost the state’s tourism sector.
In a move set to transform Himachal Pradesh into a premier tourist destination, the state government has also greenlit water sports activities in the serene waters of Gobind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur and Androuli in Una. These initiatives promise to attract adventure seekers and nature lovers alike, enhancing the state’s appeal to a global audience.
The Chief Minister emphasized that these projects are part of a broader strategy to reinforce the state’s tourism infrastructure. “The current state government has taken numerous initiatives to ensure the development of robust infrastructure for the tourism industry. We are strengthening the road network and air connectivity, with the expansion of Kangra Airport already underway. Heliports are being constructed in every district headquarters to improve air connectivity, and flights from the Sanjauli heliport will commence soon,” he stated.
The Tourism Department’s data reveals a significant increase in tourist arrivals. In the first half of 2022, the state welcomed 86.42 lakh tourists. By the end of June 2024, this number had surged to more than one crore (1,00,87,440) — reflecting the effectiveness of the Government's initiatives.
The Chief Minister highlighted that in the past, 89 lakh tourists visited in the first half of 2018, 99.57 lakh in 2019, 22.04 lakh in 2020, 19.75 lakh in 2021, and 86.42 lakh in 2022. Since taking office in December 2022, the Congress Government has prioritized tourism, recognizing its crucial role in strengthening the state's economy.
New tourist destinations are being developed in the scenic regions of Lahaul-Spiti, including Chandratal, Kaza, and Tandi, as well as Rackchham, Nako, Chango, and Khab in Kinnaur district. The Government aims to attract five crore tourists annually by promoting adventure tourism, religious tourism, and rural tourism, offering visitors a diverse and memorable experience.
Chief Minister Sukhu also declared Kangra district as the ‘Tourism Capital’ of Himachal Pradesh, with substantial infrastructure developments planned to enhance visitor experiences. The introduction of water sports at Gobind Sagar Lake and Androuli is expected to draw adventure enthusiasts, while the government plans to promote hot air ballooning in the Pong Dam area to boost the local economy. To accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists, shops will be permitted to remain open 24 hours during peak tourism seasons.
“The 2024-25 budget outlines a vision for a prosperous and self-reliant Himachal Pradesh over the next decade, focusing on transforming the state into a premier tourist destination. This vision includes creating a culturally rich, healthy, capable, and strong ‘Aatam Nirbhar’ Himachal Pradesh,” said Sukhu, in a statement on Sunday.
BOX---------------I
Planned Tourism Projects
· Sky Walk Bridge in Hassan Valley near Kufri
· Water Sports Activities in Gobind Sagar Lake, Bilaspur, and Androuli, Una
· Hot air ballooning activities in Pong Dam area
· Expansion of Kangra Airport
· Construction of Heliports in every district headquarters; flights from Sanjauli heliport to commence soon
· Chandratal, Kaza, and Tandi in Lahaul-Spiti; and Rackchham, Nako, Chango, and Khab in Kinnaur to be developed as new tourist destinations
· 24-Hour shop operations during peak tourism seasons
· Kangra district declared as the state’s Tourism Capital
BOX---------------II
|
Year (First Half) |
No. of Tourists (in lakh) |
|
2024 |
100.87 |
|
2022 |
86.42 |
|
2021 |
19.75 |
|
2020 |
22.04 |
|
2019 |
99.57 |
|
2018 |
89.00 |