HP chalks out plans to attract more tourists

Shimla, Apr 17 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government has set up a target to attract 94 lakh tourists during the current year and is focussing on developing new tourist locations in the state.

Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) Commissioner and Managing Director Ramsubhag Singh yesterday said the state had fixed a target to attract 90 lakh Indian and 4 lakh foreign tourists during the current year and added that 85 lakh Indian and 3.40 lakh foreign tourists visited the state during last year.

''An ambitious plan to increase the tourist flow in the state has been formulated under which the heritage tourist hotels have been renovated to attract foreign and high spending tourists. The state has also opened new hotels in tribal areas to increase foreign tourist flow in the snow bound areas during summer'', he added.

''Efforts have also been made to increase the tourist stay in the state by providing more facilities. New tourist locations are being made popular by including them with popular tourist destination packages and by offering attractive discounts during the peak season,'' the Managing Director said.

Mr Singh said special efforts had been made to attract tourists to places like Khadapathar, Chindi, Naggar, Shahtalai and tribal areas of Keylong, Kaza and Kalpa.

''The Corporation is also focussing on strengthening village tourism concept by enlisting existing private properties for tourism promotion,'' he said.

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