Himachal Pradesh has some of the best tourist hotspots in India attracting foreign and domestic tourists alike. With Shimla, Kulu, Manali, and Dharamshala, being over-explored by both domestic as well as international tourists, Himachal Pradesh Tourism is now looking at newer and offbeat destinations to offer enhanced experiences, primarily targeting adventure tourists.
Himachal Pradesh Tourism is coming up with a new tourism policy to promote and boost tourism in the state with a sharp focus on attracting more domestic as well as international tourists. Can you please elaborate on this?
Himachal has been named as a tourist state and that is because of the ecology and climatic conditions that are prevailing in the state. We welcome close to 17 million tourists every year! Other than the beautiful climate, the state is also known as Dev Bhoomi (the Land of God). There are many shrines, temples and shakt peeths (Hindu pilgrimages) in the state that attract tourists from the north Indian neighbouring states.
What is the status of foreign tourist arrivals?
The foreign tourist number is increasing and we receive about 500,000 foreign tourists per annum, mainly about 70 pc of them coming from Europe, 12 pc from the United States of America (US) and rest from other countries. European tourists are mostly from the United Kingdom (UK) because of the historical ties as Shimla was the summer capital of British India. Also, climatically it is close to the European weather and very near to the national capital of New Delhi. That is why the number of foreign tourists is actually increasing by eight to 10 pc every year. We are looking at other European countries like France and would like to get more tourists from there.
What is your current tourism promotion plan in the European market?
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Eat, Pray and Art, at Little Lhasa
McLeod Ganj, home of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of the Tibetans, offers an eclectic mix of Indian and Tibetan cultures, which exist in this small town dominated by Buddhism preachers and tap-toed by foreign tourists.
City of Joy: Resonance of Kolkata's Heartbeats
To discover Kolkata, the pearl of East India, with its beautiful colonial buildings, its poetry that impregnates every segment of life, even a simple conversation in a small coffee house, and its religious and spiritual syncretism, start your journey on the water, along the Ganges. The river flows through the city and is its source of life.
Focus On Niche Tourism And Infrastructure
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Bringing Jammu To The Forefront
Jammu has for long been the neglected part of the state ofJammu and Kashmir. However, now Jammu Tourism is pushing the destination,not only for spiritual travel, but also MICE, adventure, entertainment, and eco-tourism, says Priya Sethi.
It's Off The Beaten Track For Himachal
Himachal Pradesh has some of the best tourist hotspots in India attracting foreign and domestic tourists alike. With Shimla, Kulu, Manali, and Dharamshala, being over-explored by both domestic as well as international tourists, Himachal Pradesh Tourism is now looking at newer and offbeat destinations to offer enhanced experiences, primarily targeting adventure tourists.
Shimla: At Peace, Amidst All The Action
Stroll down one of the longest pedestrian shopping stretches in the world, or climb for a heritage walk. Get enveloped in a blanket of mist as you speed down a zip line, while the sky is changing from a deep orange to ebony black.
Jammu: Beyond The Spiritual Calling
The state of Jammu & Kashmir brings together contrasting worlds, one of them being the division of Jammu in the south. As the epicentre of socio-economic activities, Jammu is a rail hub and a major draw for domestic pilgrims, as well as heritage lovers.
Following Buddha's Footprints
Over the last few years, India has been aggressively marketing itself as a Buddhist tourism destination. The results have begun to show, but a lot more needs to be done to optimise the potential.
Unique and Vibrant in its Creation,but on the Verge of Extinction
Miniature painting art of Udaipur is one of the unique and distinct art forms of India. The artists draw the religious manuscripts and illustrations of mythological epics. Miniature painting art used to be the royal art and confined to the kings of the time, resulted in less attention in the contemporary world of art which has to some extent lead it onto the verge of extinction.
Women In Blue Strike And Not Out!
Interest in women’s cricket in India has peaked following their brilliant performance at the recent Women’s World Cup while the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled a new research that shows the scale of the impact this summer’s Cricket World Cup has had on fans and new participants.
