Shimla,April 16:Shri Ram Subhag Singh, Commissioner Tourism and Managing Director H.P. Tourism Development Corporation said at New Delhi today that Himachal Pradesh Government has set up a target to attract 94 lakh tourists during current year and State is fully geared to welcome the tourists during current summer season which began on 15th April, 2008.
Shri Ram Subhag Singh said that the State has fixed a target to attract 90 lakh Indian and 4 lakh foreign tourists during current year and added that 85 lakh Indian and 3.40 lakh foreign tourists visited the State during last year. He said that State has formulated an ambitious plan to increase tourist flow in the State under which heritage tourist hotels have been renovated to attract foreign and high spending tourists and added that State has opened new hotels in tribal areas so as to increase foreign tourist flow in the snow bound areas during summer. He said that efforts have also been made to increase the tourist stay in the State by providing more facilities and added that new tourist locations are being made popular by including them with popular tourist destination packages and by offering attractive discounts during the peak season. He said the special efforts have been made to attract tourists to the places like Khadapathar, Chindi, Naggar, Shahtalai and tribal areas of Keylong, Kaza and Kalpa. He said that village tourism concept has been strengthened by enlisting existing private properties for tourism promotion and Corporation will make reservation of all such premises through its official website.
He said that Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has introduced a privilege card under which 20 percent discount will be provided to the card holders for a period of three years on boarding, lodging and soft drinks. He said that Corporation has introduced air-conditioned Volvo buses on Delhi-Shimla-Manali and Dharamshala routes so as to provide comfortable journey to the tourists in the State.