HPTDC records Rs 3096.35 lakh turnover

Shimla, Jan 14 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has recorded Rs 3096.35 lakh turnover up to October 31, this year which is Rs 643.05 lakh more than the corresponding period last year, an official spokesman today said.

Besides registering a 26 per cent increase in its turnover, the Corporation earned a profit of Rs 646.34 lakh this year during the same period, registering an increase of 55.59 per cent as compared to last year.

The spokesman said the occupancy percentage in HPTDC hotels has also jumped to 54.29 per cent this year, which was an increase of 9.45 per cent over last year.

Expressing optimism that all Corporation units would start earning profit by the end of this financial year, he said it had expanded and diversified its activities and contributed significantly to the multi-faceted socio-economic development of the state.

He said the corporation, which completed 34 years of its existence on September 1, 2006 has been successful in bringing Himachal on the world tourism map by not only creating tourism infrastructure in Shimla, Manali and Dharmsala towns of the state but also in the interior rural and tribal areas.

The Corporation when registered on this day in 1972 had an authorised capital of two crore rupees only that had now grown to Rs 15 crore over the years, he said.

He said the HPTDC, which started tourism activities with a few hotels and tourist information office at Chharabra, Chail, Manali, Kullu, Naldehra, Dharmsala, Chamba and Dalhausie, has expanded and diversified its activities to provide best possible facilities to tourists visiting the state.

The Corporation now owns 54 hotels that have 983 rooms and 2,100 bed capacity besides 62 restaurants and cafes, serving varied cuisines including Himachali delicacies, he said.

Besides, it also has an independent transport wing and 12 marketing and tourist information centres within and outside the state.

The spokesman said it has also taken a number of steps to attract Indian and foreign tourists to visit Himachal by strengthening its marketing and publicity network.

It has already announced 25 to 40 per cent winter discounts in all its hotels and restaurants, besides introducing special ski packages at Narkanda as soon as the skiing slopes receive sufficient snowfall, he said.

He said Volvo Bus service and sleeper service have been introduced between Delhi and Manali to provide good transport facilities to people willing to come to Himachal.

The Corporation has also introduced online booking of its hotels from anywhere in the world to allow tourists sufficient time to plan their visit to the state, he added.

UNI