Drive to promote rural tourism

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 8

The Department of Rural Development on Saturday launched the ‘Namaste Dharamsala’ event to promote tourism in rural areas of Dharamsala.

Under this drive, tourists, included students of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), were taken to various destinations in the vicinity of Dharamsala, served traditional Kangra cuisines and a cultural programme was organised in the evening.

Abhineet Katyayan, BDO, Dharamsala, who coordinated the tour, said it was an initiative under which the tourists from across the country were being invited to visit the rural areas around Dharamsala.

The villagers were being involved in activities during the tours.

The self-help groups of women were involved in preparing Kangra cuisines for the tourists and later present a cultural programme. The expenditure of the programme was borne by the Rural Development Department, he said.

The BDO further said a website had been developed by the Rural Development Department in which tour packages would be offered to the tourists coming to Dharamsala.

The move was intended towards encouraging the tourists to visit villages so that the economy of the rural areas got a boost.

“To promote the rural tour programmes publicity material will be distributed in Volvo buses of the HPRTC plying from Dharamsala to Delhi. We are also tying up with tour operators and corporate to encourage rural tourism in Dharamsala region, he said.

A boost to economy

• A website has been developed in which tour packages will be offered to tourists 
• The move is intended towards encouraging tourists to visit villages so that their economy gets a boost