Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said the State would be developed as a tourist hub by harnessing its vast tourism potential on a war-footing.
Addressing a rally at Rewalser, on the bank of centuries old lake known for its floating islands in Balh Assembly Constituency of Mandi district, Thakur said the state had been blessed with immense tourism potential but nothing had been done in this direction. It was for the first time that a budget provision of Rs. 50 crore has been made for tourism sector.
He said the State government has decided to use the State owned helicopter as Heli Taxi for facilitating the tourists for three days a week. He said that he took up the case of construction of Airport in the State with the centre for which land had been selected and the Airport would be constructed in Balh Assembly constituency.
Thakur said that steps had been taken for protecting Gau Vansh besides generating revenue for construction of Gau Sadans in the State. He said that Re. 1 cess had been imposed on sale of every bottle of liquor in the State for construction and maintenance of Gau Sadans.
The CM said Rewalsar would be developed from tourism point of view as it was a religious place for followers of three religions. He said that ADB project would be sanctioned for Rewalser to develop it in form of tourist circuit.