Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state is moving aggressively to boost tourism through a series of innovative initiatives, including the newly introduced Tourism Startup in Hospitality Industry Scheme. The scheme is drawing strong interest as it aims to promote tourism while creating self-employment opportunities across the state.
Under the scheme, financial relief will be provided on loans taken for establishing new tourism units such as homestays, as well as for expanding or upgrading existing facilities. Any bonafide resident of Himachal Pradesh can avail the benefits, which include interest subsidies of 3% in urban areas, 4% in rural areas, and 5% in tribal regions on loans up to ₹2 crore for a period of three years.
Highlighting the growing significance of homestays, the Chief Minister said they are helping attract more visitors by offering affordable and culturally immersive alternatives to hotels, thereby promoting longer stays in rural areas. He added that the scheme will help tap the tourism potential of the state’s culturally rich regions while generating local employment and boosting the economy.
The government is simultaneously working on developing new tourist destinations. Sites in Lahaul-Spiti (Chandratal, Kaza) and Kinnaur (Rackcham, Nako) are being developed, along with efforts to promote border tourism in the Shipki-La region. To further diversify attractions, the state will establish wellness centres in Manali Kullu, Naggar, and Nadaun; ice skating rinks in Shimla, Dharamshala and Mandi; and introduce river-rafting in Nadaun. Work will also begin on beautifying the Baba Balak Nath temple.
Sukhu noted that the tourism and hospitality sector contributes 7.78% to the state’s GDP, and the government aims to expand tourism sustainably by encouraging private-sector participation without harming the ecological balance.
Infrastructure development remains a priority, particularly at religious sites. Major shrines are being connected through ropeways, including the recently completed Bagulamukhi ropeway in Mandi, built at a cost of ₹53.89 crore. Ropeway projects for Rohtang, Bijli Mahadev, Baba Balak Nath temple, and Chintpurni are also underway.
A key highlight is the upcoming Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park in Kangra, being built at a cost of ₹619 crore. It is set to become India’s first zoo to receive certification from the Indian Green Building Council and will include a planetarium.
The State Government has also rolled out a new Eco-Tourism Policy to develop 77 eco-sites with online booking options for activities like trekking and forest camping. Meanwhile, Kangra district is being developed as the ‘Tourism Capital’ of Himachal, with ₹460 crore already spent on airport expansion.
To improve air connectivity, 16 heliports are being developed across the state, especially in tribal and remote regions. In the first phase, heliports are coming up in Jaskot, Rakkar, Palampur, Sultanpur, Manali, Jispa, Sissu, Rangrik, and Sharbo. Additionally, the government has approved the construction of a skywalk bridge at Hassan Valley near Kufri, along with the introduction of water tourism at Gobind Sagar reservoir and Androuli.
The Chief Minister assured that these wide-ranging initiatives reflect the state’s commitment to creating a sustainable, diversified, and globally competitive tourism ecosystem.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
