Himachal Pradesh has zeroed in on big international hotels as the game changer for promotion of tourism in the State. The tourism industry contributes 9.75 per cent to the Gross Domestic Produce of the State presently.
“We can facilitate such big hoteliers by either providing them land on lease or by identifying suitable land for them to construct their hotels”, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said on Saturday. He said it can prove to be a game changer for the State if chain of big international hotels be invited and asked to invest in the State.
The Chief Minister was chairing the sixth meeting of HP Tourism Development Board here. He also expressed happiness over UNESCO heritage status for Great Himalayan National Park, in Kullu district and said that it would certainly go a long way in promoting tourism in the State.
Singh said that conclaves or seminars in association with FICCI, ASSOCHAM or CII should be held in near future, as these hoteliers were also members of such associations and could be urged for investing in the State in interest of Tourism Industry which would give fillip to the Tourism Industry and Himachal Pradesh would be established as a leading global sustainable tourism destination by 2029.
He stressed upon renovating and re-constructing the ancient temples of the State and also advised the department of language, Art and Culture to re-construct such temples, which were of late gutted with the same old traditional architectural design. “All temples of pre-historic time require refurbishment and the concerned department should take necessary steps in this direction” said the Chief Minister.
On the ‘Jakhu Ropeway Project’ in Shimla, Singh asked for completion of the much delayed project without further delay. He also proposed for another Rope Way from Sarahan to Bashal Manda and said that it was a picturesque spot from tourism point of view from where people can trek over to Bhaba Valley of Kinnaur.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need to fast-track the infrastructure projects with definite time lines and stressed that critical gaps in the infrastructure for the growth of tourism be met on priority.
He said that to stop harassment of tourists and visitors especially in Shimla, certain guidelines to curb the activities of touts and coolies at Railway station or near the bus stand or entry point needs to be regulated by law. “This was necessary to stop harassment of tourists in hands of such people,” he said.
To encourage the
hospitality industry in hard and tribal areas and in backward panchayats of the State, the Government has exempted the new hotel units being set up from paying luxury tax for a period of 10 years wef 1st August 2012 and April 2013 respectively from the date the unit commences operation. It was also decided to install signboards showing directions of the important tourist destinations on major State and National Highways.
Singh asked for a large scale publicity campaign to sell Brand Himachal saying any negative publicity that might prove ruinous to the States image must be rebutted aggressively. Soon, there could also be a brand ambassador for Himachal Tourism, Singh was informed in the meeting.