Demonstrations planned over decision to shift HPTDC office

Expressing strong opposition to the state government’s decision to shift the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) head office from Shimla to Dharamsala, members of the tourism sector have announced a series of protests. They will stage a demonstration outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office on August 22, followed by another outside the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on August 25, demanding that the government withdraw its decision.

The announcement came during a convention held in Shimla today, which was attended by hundreds of stakeholders associated with the tourism industry. Addressing the gathering, Harish Vyas, President of the Guide & Tour and Travel Association, termed the move “anti-people, anti-tourism, and against the interests of corporation employees.”

He argued that Shimla, which has been recognised as a tourist destination for more than two centuries, generates the largest share of Himachal Pradesh’s tourism revenue and sustains the highest concentration of people earning their livelihood from tourism.

According to Vyas, shifting the HPTDC office from Shimla would not only harm the tourism industry but also place an additional financial burden on the corporation. He highlighted that the Board of Directors of HPTDC includes top officials such as the Chief Secretary, Tourism Secretary, Finance Secretary, Director of Tourism, and often the Chief Minister as Chairperson — all of whom are based in Shimla. Relocating the office hundreds of kilometers away, he said, would make functioning inefficient and impractical.

He further noted that most foreign, domestic, and state tourists prefer visiting Shimla, making it the natural hub for tourism administration. Moving the office away, he warned, is neither administratively sound nor practically viable. The decision, he claimed, appears politically motivated rather than guided by the needs of tourism and the livelihoods of lakhs dependent on the sector.