HP Tourism to set up Tourist Information call centre

Shimla, Apr 27 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department will set up a call centre for providing free information to tourists visiting or planning to visit various destinations in the state, a senior tourism spokesman said.

Besides setting up a call centre for the tourists, the tourism Department would also increase, from 10 to 15 per cent, the commission of those travel and tour operators who provide maximum business to its hotel units.

The spokesman said this would make the business more competitive and lucrative which would help the operators earn more, adding that the other states have already increased the commission.

The state government has decided to set up a Tourism Advisory council which would include eminent personalities from travel and tourism industry to provide guidance on related matters and emerging trends, he added.

He said world class conference facilities would be provided in Hotel Peterhoff and Hotel Holiday Home of the Tourism Corporation in Shimla to attract international clients, corporate houses and professionals from different streams.

Light fitness centres have been set up in the Tourism Corporation Hotels in Shimla and facilites like steam, sauna bath and panchkarma have been added for health-conscious tourist.

The spokesman supported the idea of setting up ''Dilli Haat'' type shopping-cum-food complexes in important tourist destinations of the state to promote local handicraft, art and cuisine and making these articles available to tourists at afforadable prices.

All the units of the state tourism corporation would be made online and private tour and travel agents would have access to this facility, he added.

UNI AS JN AE AS1740