Organising the sailing regatta and golf has helped Nainital and Uttarakhand gain an international identity, opined Governor Krishan Kant Paul. The Governor said this after inaugurating the three-day Governor’s Gold Cup Sailing Regatta organised by the Nainital Yacht Club with the assistance of the State Government at the Naini lake on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that activities like sailing and golf will aid in popularising Uttarakhand as a destination for adventure tourism. Nainital and other tourist destinations in the State can play a major role in developing tourism in Uttarakhand.
Citing the lakhs of tourists visiting Uttarakhand every year as evidence of the State’s tourism potential, the Governor also spoke of the need for effective measures for encouraging adventure tourism, adventure sports and water sports in the State. Efforts should also be made to facilitate inclusion of sailing in the national games to be hosted by Uttarakhand in 2018.
Recalling that the song ‘Din hain bahaar ke’ in the 1965 super-hit Hindi movie Waqt was filmed on the Naini lake, the governor said that the Naini lake is a good location for filming. Paul said that the sailing competition being held in Nainital would send a positive message across the world about Uttarakhand being a favourable destination for adventure sports and tourism. This national level competition at the Naini lake will prove effective in attracting tourists towards boating and yachting here, he said.
The newly constructed sailing jetty near the lake will prove convenient for those interested in sailing. The governor commended the effort undertaken by the Nainital yacht club was resuming the sailing regatta last year after a gap of 40 years.
He expressed hope that this event will be held regularly every year in the future. Appreciating the efforts aimed at attracting school children to yachting, the governor said that competitive events should be held periodically to encourage participation of youngsters in such sporting activities. Teams from Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, Bhopal and Nainital are participating in the sailing regatta. Kumaon commissioner AS Nayal, Kumaon university vice chancellor HS Dhami, deputy inspector general, Kumaon, PS Sailal and other officials were among those present on the occasion.