Call to promote places around Queen of Hills

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 22

Stakeholders in the tourism industry have demanded the state government to conduct roadshows for promotion of sightseeing places in and around Shimla to prolong the stay of visitors.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, Mohinder Seth, president, Tourism Industry Stakeholders’ Association, said, there was a dire need to promote new tourist destinations in and around the capital. “Though, two new tourist attractions — Tulip Garden at Craignano and Joy Ride on the UNESCO World Heritage Track between Shoghi and Shimla — have been started, these need to be promoted,” Seth asserted.

He also emphasised the need for aggressive publicity and marketing to attract tourists to Shimla and nearby destinations. The Tourism Department should plan and organise roadshows in different parts highlighting tourist destinations across the state to enable the tourists to plan their itinerary accordingly, he suggested.

He also proposed that the department should authenticate such places and make it mandatory for all stakeholders like hotels and travel agencies to display information about them. “We urge the department to publicise the new tourist destinations by putting up hoardings and banners at prominent places,” he said.