‘With ADB help, HP to spend Rs 2.5K cr on tourism infra’

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Dharamsala, February 9

The state government organised the ‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’ programme at Samloti in Nagrota Bagban today.

RS Bali, Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, said the government was making efforts to develop adventure, religious and natural tourism infrastructure in the state and had an ambitious target of welcoming five crore tourists annually in the future.

He said to achieve this target, the state government would spend Rs 2,500 crore for tourism development in Himachal with the help of the Asian Development Bank. Bali said initially, an amount of Rs 1,300 crore had already been approved.

The state government has also made a provision for Rs 400 crore in the Budget in the current financial year to promote tourism activities, he added.

Bali said the tourism sector was the backbone of the economy of the state as thousands of families got livelihood directly and indirectly through it.

“Himachal Pradesh is on its way to becoming an excellent global tourist destination. New self-employment opportunities will be provided in rural areas so migration of the youth can be reduced and they can get employment on their doorstep. Career counselling will also be provided, especially for the youth in rural areas, so that more and more youngsters can become self-reliant by joining start-ups. Employment fairs are being organised twice a year in the Nagrota Bagban area,” he added.

Bali said work was being done on many important schemes to fulfill the resolve of the Chief Minister to make Kangra district a tourism capital.

“An amount of Rs 300 crore will be spent on tourism development in the Nagrota Bagwan Assembly constituency. An international-level music fountain will also be established in Nagrota Bagwan and a tourism hotel equipped with modern facilities will also be constructed. A model school and two sports complexes will also be constructed so that the youth can get better sports facilities. As many as 523 Mahila Mandals will get a grant of Rs 11,000 each,” he said.

On the occasion, Bali also distributed cheques of Rs 21,000 each among 11 beneficiaries under the ‘Beti Hai Anmol’ scheme.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Kishori Lal was also present during the programme.