The State Cabinet has approved the tourism policy. With the Government already having accorded industry status to tourism, under the tourism policy, investors and units will now be able to receive the various benefits and encouragement provided to other industries in the State. A total of 28 activities/facilities including hotel, resorts, Yoga, Spa, Ayurveda and naturopathy resort, eco-lounge, parking spots, entertainment parks, convention centre, festival, adventure activities (trekking, paragliding, water and aero-sports), ropeway, air taxi, handicrafts and service apartments among others have been granted valid units status. Under the policy, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) will be the nodal agency for registration and processing related to tourism related activities and projects.
On the occasion the State Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj congratulated all the stakeholders connected to tourism. He said that this was a gift from the state government to the public on the occasion of tourism day. The purpose of this policy is to develop and strengthen the state as a secure and tourist-friendly destination. It is also aimed at development new tourist destinations, special tourist products and ensuring basic facilities at tourist destinations.
Tourism secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that the new policy will be valid for a period of five years from its issuance. According to the proposed policy, the UTDB will prepare land banks in each district for tourism purpose. For the convenience of investors, the department will depute a nodal officer to work in coordination with the investors throughout various steps in the process under the single window system. Varied encouragement and subsidies will also be provided to tourism projects ranging in cost from Rs 10 crore to more than Rs 50 crore.