Shimla Winter Carnival kicks off; restaraunts, dhabas in state allowed to remain open 24 hours till January 5

Shimla, December 25

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the first ‘Shimla Winter Carnival’ at the historic Ridge today. 

Speaking on the occasion, Sukhu said, “The state government has granted permission to all restaurants, dhabas and food shops in the state to remain open 24 hours from December 20 to January 5, to facilitate the tourists visiting the state.” 

The event started with a cultural parade while the highlight of the event was a Maha Nati presented by 450 women, showcasing the talent of self-help groups and anganwadi workers.

The chief minister said the beginning of the Winter Carnival in Shimla is a historic moment for the town, which will continue till January 5. The aim to organising the carnival is to boost tourism in the state.

Sukhu said the recent monsoon fury had affected Himachal’s tourism sector, but with the collective efforts of his cabinet colleagues and officials from different departments, the state had recovered from this setback.

“Himachal has witnessed an influx of 30,000 tourist vehicles in the past couple of days, signalling a promising revival of the tourism industry in the state,” he said. He commended public representatives and officers for their contributions in this task and emphasised the role of tourism revenue in the state’s economy.

The chief minister said the state government is committed to promoting tourism in the state. It has allocated Rs 3,000 crore budget to the tourism sector, a significant increase from the earlier Rs 50 crore. He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received from children and all sections of society in making donations to help the state’s recovery from the rain disaster.

He also inaugurated the exhibition on the Ridge featuring stalls set up by the district administration, Shimla, and various departments.

MLA Harish Janartha appreciated the efforts of the state government for organising the Shimla Winter Carnival and its potential to give boost to tourism.