Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Saturday marked the opening of Himachal Travel Mart pavilion at the Ridge, Shimla in which exhibits for promoting tourism related activities of as many as 15 States were displayed.
The Chief Minister said that such type of marts go a long way in promoting the tourism activities and gives the much needed fillip to tourism industry.
He said the State Government was in the process of enacting a law against touting to prevent the fleecing of tourists, by unscrupulous elements in the State, adding further that tourism, as an activity, requires contribution from all stakeholders concerned. “I realise that the State Government has an important role in providing a conducive environment for it. We are up for the task at hand,” said he; hoping great future for tourism in Himachal Pradesh and see the State emerge truly a “destination for all seasons and all reasons”.
Speaking on the sidelines after opening the Mart, the Chief Minister said that the Government was in no mood to change the name of Shimla and other places in Himachal.
Shimla is a well known and famous tourist destination and is known by its present name globally. Changing names was not a solution to everything, rather, someone would come up tomorrow and say to change my name also, and he quipped. Shimla is famous by its present name and would ever be so, he said.
Earlier in his inaugural addresson at the launching of Himachal Travel Mart at Hotel Holiday Home, he said the State Government initiated various measures to take tourism industry further by inviting private sector investments in the areas of ropeways, resorts, amusement parks, film cities, mega tourist destinations, civil aviation sector, adventure activities like paragliding, heli-skiing, water sports etc.
International buyers from Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Bulgaria, South Africa, Ukarine, Australia and Russia were participating in the event besides leading tour operators and online travel guides as EU-Asien. DE Media from Germany, liberty travels from USA, adonis from Russia were amongst others.
Delegates from over 15 Indian major markets like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Mumbai, Delhi, Banglore, Punjab and West Bengal also participated in the meet and were part of Himachal Travel Mart.
Apart from coming up with new rope-ways, Chief Minister said that the expansion of Kangra airport had been proposed and the initial land acquisition cost as per initial survey had been done.
Besides, the Jubbar-hatti airstrip had also been improved and widened, he added and the Supreme Court had directed Government of India to start air services to Shimla at the earliest. “We hope that soon the flights would be started for Shimla”, he said adding that the Government was keen to strengthen the existing airports.
The Chief Minister said that the Government had come out with Sustainable Tourism Development Policy serving as a blue print for all present and future tourism related activities in the state. The state has also formulated the Greater Dharamshala Tourism Action Plan, he added.
Himachal is a small hill state endowed with magnificent natural grandeur he said, adding that vast virgin areas were open to tourists with road connectivity and Himachal has a vast potential in respect of religious, adventurous, health tourism etc.
“The people are God fearing and the State has a very rich culture”, he said, adding that home stay for visitors was fast picking up and the Government was committed to give push to village and rural tourism as well. The home stay units in rural areas are also exempted from payment of luxury tax for a period of 5 years, till 2018, he said.
There has been a consistent increase in the tourist arrival in Himachal. During January to December 2015, 1.75 crore tourists visited the state with an annual growth rate of 7.46%.