Being the backbone of state's economy, Himachal Pradesh Government is laying special impetus on strengthening tourism industry in the state. In fact, to boost the state’s tourism sector, the Government had signed as many 225 MoUs worth Rs 16,000 crore during the recently held Global Investors' Meet and work on almost 15 percent projects has already been started.
Groundbreaking ceremony of 81 projects with an investment of Rs 3,322 crore in Tourism sector was performed on completion of two years tenure of the State Government, said the government spokesperson.
Spokesperson said that the efforts are being made to make tourism sector employment-oriented for local residents, under which, 2000 homestays and 3600 hotels have been registered in the state, against the previous year’s figure of just 476 new homestay units.
To provide employment to the unemployed youth, the State Government has provided training to 939 people in various tourism industries such as tourist guide, taxi driver, porter, dhaba owners, food and beverage services, trekking guide, basic course of tourism, skiing course by HIMCON, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Mountaineering Institute Manali, Nature and Life Association, Mountaineering center Bharmaur and HPTDC.
A provision of Rs 50 crore has been made under ‘Nai Rahein Nai Manzilein’ scheme, to develop the virgin lands of the State.
In the first phase of the scheme, development of Janjheli in Mandi district, Chanshal in Shimla district, Bir-Biling in Kangra district, water sport activities in Largi and Pong area will be done.
To strengthen the tourism sector, Asian Development Bank has approved project worth Rs 656.00 crore, which will be completed in two phases or tranches. Another ADB aided scheme with an outlay of Rs 1,892.00 crore has also been approved for the State which includes a special package of community development, under which people of rural areas would be encouraged to set up activities related to tourism.
State Government is constructing ropeways as an alternate transport arrangement for facilitating tourists, including Dharamshala-Mcleodganj ropeway by 2020, Sri Anandpur-Naina Devi in Bilaspur district, Aadi-Himani Chamunda in Kangra district, Palchan-Rohtang and Bijli Mahadev in Kullu district, Maa Shikari Devi in Mandi district, Shahtalai-Dayotisidh in Bilaspur-Hamirpur district and Narkanda-Hatu ropeway in Shimla district.
With laying special impetus to establish airports of international standards to facilitate high-end tourists in the state, the state government is working on a proposal to construct international level airport at Nagchala in Mandi district and land has been identified for the same.
The State Government is taking approval from Union Government as per Greenfield Airport policy for setting up airport, added the spokesperson.