Bigger air craft at Kullu airport during current summer season

Shimla, May 1 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government is making all efforts to start flights of bigger air crafts at Kullu airport.

Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Ram Subhag addressing Indian Association of Tour Operators meeting at New Delhi today said the services will be started during current summer season.

He said the state government will start helli taxi service to the tribal and picturesque valleys to attract high spending tourists and show case them the inner Himalayan regions of the state.

He said that Government would soon invite bids from reputed air services operators to conduct the helli taxi service in the state and added that the air service providers will be asked to associate themselves with marketing of Himachal tourism and share the responsibilities of attracting tourists and generating business in the state.

Mr Ram Subhag Singh told that Naldehra golf course would be expanded from present 9 holes to 18 holes and added that Panchkarma and Ayurvedic rejuvenation programmes would be started in all the HPTDC hotels. He said that Panchkarma facilities have been started in Hotel Holiday Home Shimla and Chail Palace units of the corporation will be covered under the facility soon.

Mr Singh said that Government has decided to involve public Pvt partnership in building infrastructure in tourism sector and added that government would seek active co-operation of Pvt sector in developing infrastructure in the state.

He said that Government has formulated an ambitious plan to link hydel projects and apple orchadists with tourism sector and told that efforts are being made to move the tourist from traditional sites to the new places so as their stay could be increased and they may be involved in activity related events.

He said that Himachal Pradesh has the distinction of attracting more tourists then its populations and added that tourist occupancy in major tourism destinations is around 75 per cent. He said the efforts are being made to increase the tourist occupancy by clubbing less occupied tourist bungalow with popular tourist destinations and including them with a comprehensive package in the tourist circuit.

He said that tourism department will organise Fan Trips to tour operators who contribute maximum business to himachal tourism and further added that corporation has enhanced the commission of travel agents from current summer season.

He said that agents will be provided 15 percent commission of the business generated upto 2 lakhs while the commission on business between 2 lakhs to 8 lakhs will be 17 percent and the maximum 20 percent commission will be provided to tour operators who generates business above 8 lakhs rupees per annum.

UNI XC AS PS BP2028