Himachal Government to set up 11 eco-tourism sites to promote sustainable travel

In a bid to promote eco-tourism in Himachal Pradesh, the state government has selected 11 pristine eco-tourism sites nestled amid forested areas.

During a meeting of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and the Himachal Pradesh Eco Tourism Society, they stressed the need for a widespread push in eco-tourism and highlighted ongoing infrastructure development initiatives that can boost this cause.
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As per the reports, the selected sites include, Neugal Park, Swaar, Bir Billing, Saurabh Van Vihar, and Neugal Park in the Palampur forest division. Along with these, places like Kheerganga, Kasol, and Sumarupa in the Parvati forest division, Shogi camping site, Narkanda in Kotgarh, Sojha in Seraj, and Potter Hill camping site under the Shimla forest division have also been identified for development. Each of these eco-tourism destinations is allocated an area of one hectare to ensure their protection and sustainability, with an established reserve price to facilitate their development.

Adding more to this, Chief Minister Sukhu added that Himachal Pradesh has been bestowed with unparalleled natural beauty, the reason why it’s an enticing destination for tourists worldwide. He emphasised the need to promote eco-tourism in the state which not only aims to boost tourist arrivals but also holds the potential to boost the state's revenue. Further, it is likely that this initiative will generate self-employment opportunities for the local population.

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The Chief Minister also mentioned that the government's commitment to eco-tourism extends beyond the 11 identified sites, revealing that more such eco-tourism sites will be identified and developed across the state, a move that is aimed at revitalising the tourism sector, which took a severe hit due to recent floods.
As part of these endeavours to promote sustainable and responsible tourism, the Himachal Pradesh government has recently granted approval for two eco-tourism projects valued at INR 16.67 crore.

These initiatives are the result of collaborative efforts among various government departments, including Panchayati Raj, Forest, Tourism, and Rural Development, aimed at ensuring the successful execution of these eco-tourism projects.