CM for promoting Home Stay scheme in HP

Shimla, Sep 28 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government is promoting ''Home Stay'' scheme in the state to acquaint visitors with its rich cultural heritage, customs and traditions.

The scheme had been launched to promote rural tourism in the state by encouraging the tourists to stay in houses in rural areas, he said in his message on the World Tourism Day after releasing the latest edition of the Tourism Department's magazine ''Monal'' here.

Mr Singh said all people in the rural areas that provide Home Stay to the tourists would be registered with the state tourism department to ensure the security to the tourists.

Besides generating employment in the rural areas, the scheme would also boost its economy, he said.

The Chief Minister said Kullu-Manali, Kangra and Pathankot airports have been expanded to facilitate the landing of big planes while efforts were on to expand Jubberhatti airport, near here.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has also been approached for installing night landing facilities at all the airports of the state, he said.

He said the government had set up a large number of airports all over Himachal and it proposed to start helitaxi services to cater to the high-end tourists.

Several cabinet ministers and senior state government officials were also present on the occasion.

UNI