350 agents attend Travel Mart at Manali

MC Thakur

MANALI, NOVEMBER 20

The first-ever Travel Mart organized by Manali Hoteliers Association began here today. As many as 350 tour and travel agents from all over the country are participating. Member of Parliament, Ram Swaroop Sharma, was the chief guest and inaugurated the event, while Govind Thakur, MLA, Manali, was the guest of honour.

After the opening ceremony, the MP said that Manali, a world famous tourist destination, was better known as the abode of the great sage “Manu Rishi”. While welcoming all the participants, he said that they should promote Kullu-Manali in a big way as visitors from India and overseas visited the place.

To extend better facilities to the tourists, the airport at Kullu was being upgraded and a bigger aircraft will put in operation soon. The four-lane road project already announced would give boost to tourism sector, he added. A Panchkarma centre on the Kerala pattern was coming up at Pandoh in Mandi district which will also help promote ayurveda tourism in the state.

Govind Thakur, MLA, Manali, appreciated the effort of Manali Hoteliers Association for organizing the event. He further said that this unique tourist hill station got worldwide prominence after the visit of the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also liked Manali ans wrote poetry here.

Gajender Thakur, president, Manali Hoteliers Association, said the main objective behind organizing Manali Travel Mart is to promote Kullu- Manali as a round-the-year tourist destination. Special attention will be given to explore new places of tourist interest in and around Manali. There are still many virgin tourist spots which need to explore in Kullu valley. Travel partners participating in the mega mart will be introduced to these new destinations and adventure related activities which will maximize the tourist traffic to this region and ease tourist pressure on Rohtang Pass.