Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that employment opportunities for 45 persons were being generated directly or indirectly on every investment of Rs.10 lakh in the tourism sector. Chief Minister said it in a public meeting at Targhel Ukhli in Hamirpur district today after performing foundation stone laying ceremony of Tourist Reception Centre to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 80 lakh today.
Prof. Dhumal said that more than 1.50 crore tourists have visited the State during this year and the State was attracting large number of tourists every year. He said that tourism potential was being explored in rural areas as well besides developing famous tourist destinations. He said that Home Stay Scheme had been launched in rural areas to apprise the tourists of the rich cultural traditions of the State. He said that large number of units have been registered under the scheme which had picked momentum and encouraging results have come up. He said that these units were tax free and water and electricity facilities were being provided to them on domestic rates. This scheme had generated enormous employment avenues to un-employed youth and tourism sector had got fillip and the tourism promotion efforts of the State Government have been acclaimed at national level fetching about 24 awards in tourism sector only out of the total 53 awards conferred upon the State.
Chief Minister said that the State Government was implementing various schemes in assistance with Asian Development Bank. He said that Rs. 6.55 crore were being spent in Hamirpur district on tourism development and added that doubled storeyed parking at a cost of Rs. 2 crore in Hamirpur, beautification and land scaping work at Gasauta Mahadev at a cost of Rs. 15 lac, restoration works of Shiva temple and picnic spot at Bhoukhar at a cost of 13 lac, Tourist Reception Centre and Parking at Deot Sidh at cost of 84 lac were being undertaken. He further said that River Rafting Centre at Nadaun was being set up at a cost of 35 lac besides Tourist Reception Centre and Parking at a cost of Rs. 75 lac, another Tourist Reception Centre and Parking at Sujanpur at a cost of Rs. 50 lac, beautification and land scaping work at Tauni Devi Temple and Awah Devi at a cost of Rs. 35 lac and 68 lac respectively were in progress, he said. He announced Rs. 32 lac for Awah Devi Temple and said that State Government was finalising the scheme to connect Shah Talai and Deot Sidh Temple through a ropeway.
Vineet Kumar, MD, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed out the activities of the Corporation.
