Apple to hone tourist appetite as Kullu, Shimla to host fest in Aug

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 11

The Tourism Department is gearing up to hold an apple festival in Shimla and Kullu in August-September to attract visitors to the fruit orchards.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Tourism Development Board chaired by vice-chairman here today. The department plans to hold the Apple Festival in August in Kullu and in September-end in Shimla so that it coincides with the World Tourism Day celebrations.

The department is also planning to organise a Himachal Travel Mart, where travel agents from will participate. It will be a major marketing initiative aimed at attracting tourists.

Thought the tourist arrivals in Himachal have been on the rise except in 2014 due to the Uttrakhand calamity, the authorities are keen to focus on more high-end tourists. The main objective is to attract tourists during the apple season which begins in August and continues till November. It was only once in 2003 that the Apple Festival was held when Major Vijai Singh Mankotia was the Tourism Minister.

Back in the government as Vice-Chairman of the State Tourism Development Board, Mankotia is keen to make the Apple Festival a big and regular event which can sustain tourism during the lean season from July. Tourists will be encouraged to visit Shimla, Kullu, Solan, Mandi, Sirmour and Kinnaur districts where there are apple and other fruit orchards.

The idea is also to develop the concept of home stay scheme in farms whether it is apple, peach, apricot, plum or other fruits. A meeting has already been held with some farm owners, travel agents and officials of the Horticulture and Agriculture Departments as well as hoteliers so that the Apple Festival can be developed into a major festival with a host of activities.