Blueprint for promotion of eco-tourism ready

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 13

The Forest Department has prepared the blueprint for promotion of eco-tourism activities in the state in a big way as 100 forest rest houses in high tourism potential areas will be thrown open for tourists who can avail the specially designed package tours on the website of the department and also through big travel agencies.

Eco tourism will be given a major boost in the state as there is a proposal to promote the identified destination and walking trails for nature lovers. An exhaustive road map to develop and promote about 50 newly identified eco-tourism sites has been prepared to woo tourists who wish to explore nature and visit the unexplored pristine areas of the state.

“We will aggressively promote eco-tourism for which 16 forest rest houses have already been linked to the scheme while another 35 with high tourism potential have been identified,” revealed Tarun Kapoor, Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment. He added that besides developing an exclusive eco-tourism website, the department will tie up with popular travel agencies like to promote Himachal.

The eco-tourism wing of the Forest Department has identified about 100 sites, out of which 50 will be run by the HP Forest Corporation and the remaining by the eco societies. While the HP Forest Corporation can lease these sites under PPP mode, the department will run them on their own. EcoSoc (Eco-Tourism Society) Societies will manage the Forest Rest Houses that will be linked to eco-tourism.

The Forest Department has a total of 281 rest houses and 178 Inspection Bungalows in all the 12 districts of the state. Besides, 26 rest houses and 12 Inspection Bungalows are under construction. In fact, the forest rest houses are located in the most idyllic places and are much in demand. Moreover, 60 per cent of the income from the rest houses will remain with the circle level Eco Soc Society while 20 per cent each of the earning will go to the state level Eco Society and State Government treasury.

“We have designed special package tours so that the visitors can enjoy nature and wildlife by trekking along the trails that will be identified and developed. This will also offer them an opportunity to have a glimpse of the local culture, traditions and the cuisine,” said G.R. Sahibi, CEO of the Eco Soc and Chief Conservator Forest (CCF). He said the exclusive website will help people in any part of the world to get their booking done with the department.

At present there are five eco-tourism sites being run under the PPP mode in the state. Though a total of 10 sites had been given out on lease in 2009 but only five became operational and the remaining were surrendered.