Tourism sector is contributing 18 percent of State Gross Domestic Product. This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister after dedicating Tourism Information Centre at Solan constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.36 crore today. He said that at present 2150 hotels were registered in the State where 25,800 rooms facilities were available to accommodate 56,000 guests.
He said that as many as 370 houses were registered under Home Stay Scheme in rural areas of the State where traditional food cuisines were served to the tourists adding that the visitors were also being acquainted with Himachali culture and customs.
Chief Minister said that Rs. 17 crore were being spent on various tourism activities in Solan district. He said that Rs. 4.20 crore was being spent on Solan Tourism Circuit, Rs. 4.80 crore on Chail Circuit, Rs. 7.05 crore on Jubbarhatti-Arki-Nalagarh circuit, and Rs. 70 lakh on Rural Tourism Circuit. He said that necessary tourism infrastructural facilities were being created in the district like wayside amenities, tourism information centres, parkings, parks etc. etc.
In addition to this, picnic spots, trekking paths and other public facilities would also be ensured to the people. He said that the State Government had published coffee table book, Har Ghar Kuchh Kehta Hai and Har Gaon Ki Kahani to attract tourists to the State. He said that in the first phase the legend from one village of each district was incorporated in Har Gaon Ki Kahani and more such 102 legends of villages would be published.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State had been awarded with Best Tourist State Award, Best Hill destination, Best Summer Destination, and Best Adventure Destination. He said that as many as 1.32 crore tourists visited the State last year including 4.53 lakh foreign tourists which were much more than other States of the country including Goa. He said that State Government was committed to provide all basic facilities to the tourists.
Shri Rajeev Saijal, Shri Govind Sharma, Smt. Vindod Chandel, MLAs, Smt. Manisha Nanda, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Shri Arun Sharma, Director, Tourism, prominent persons and other senior officers were present on the occasion.