Himachal Pradesh has been voted as ‘The Favourite Summer Destination’ by the Outlook Traveller. In a survey conducted in 2011 by the magazine through the prestigious Nailson Company, Himachal Pradesh has been voted as the Favourite Summer Destination. This survey had been conducted through-out the country and is an authoritative benchmark of the consumers preferences in Travel and Tourism across 18 categories including Hotels, Airlines and Hotel, Holiday Destinations.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal gave all credit to the people associated with the tourism industry and said that all deserve applaud as they have continuously been striving to upgrade, enrich and to popularize the tourism product of the State. He further exhorted that tourism industry and the people of the State should strive further and promote Himachal in such a way that while the pristine beauty of the State is appreciated and enjoyed by the guests, there is minimal environmental degradation. States will also show-case its numerous achievements in various fields, he added. He said that Himachal has become a role-model for not only the hill states but for all states in the country.
He said that the contribution of tourism sector towards the GDP has steadily increased from around 7 percent in the year 2009 to the present levels of 10 percent. He said that Himachal has become the first State to link the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the country for the development of tourism infrastructure in the rural areas. The State has developed 12 rural circuits during last year and rural tourism activities have been undertaken in 64 villages, he added.
Chief Minister emphasised for the maintenance and improvement of the tourism product for ensuring the flow of high end tourists to the State. The concept of quality tourism needs to be more seriously pursued by the industry for making Himachal an unforgettable place.
