Uttarakhand will no longer be only a summer holiday destination. It is soon going to be a tourist favourite throughout the year, says the state's tourism minister Prakash Pant
Uttarakhand will no longer be only a summer holiday destination. It is soon going to be a tourist favourite throughout the year, says the state's tourism minister Prakash Pant
Skiing in winter, whitewater rafting in summer and some soul solace in springu2026 If Uttarakhand is your favourite summer holiday destination, this will make you happier. The state government is planning to make the region an all-season adventure hotspot.
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Excerpts of the interview...
From a soul trip in Badrinath to river rafting at Rishikesh and Mussoorie's colonial charm, Uttarakhand has something to offer for every tourist. How are you planning to make it even more attractive?
Other than spiritual tourism, which is already drawing a substantial number of visitors, we are focusing on two sectorsu00a0adventure tourism and village tourism. While many regions in the country offer trekking facilities, the snow-covered slopes of Auli are very good for skiing. We are developing Auli as a leisure destination.
Our fast-moving mountain rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna and Sharda challenge tourists to try some exhilarating whitewater rafting. But most of these activities are seasonal. So our first priority is to make the state an all-season adventure tourism destination. We are looking at the possibility of offering rafting facilities throughout the year along with paragliding, parasailing and trekking.
We have developed an ice skating ring at Dehradun to promote the state's potential as a winter sports' destination.
Are any new destinations being promoted?
Today's tourist wants to holiday in seclusion. So we are searching for remote locations which can be developed as tourist places. We have already identified 13 such spots and are developing the infrastructure there. Then we will launch a publicity campaign to draw in the tourist.
The Asian Development Bank is aiding our research.
Many states are cashing in on the urban youth's interest in rural tourism. Have you too identified villages for the same?
Village tourism is our priority. We believe that by promoting our villages, we can give the tourist a unique taste of the tradition and culture of Uttarakhand. We have already recognised several villages for this campaign, including Kunja Bahadurpur, where Britishers hanged 500 people before Independence. We have also developed a site inside the Jim Corbett National Park as a heritage village.
Bad infrastructure in remote regions often hampers the tourism prospects of an otherwise exotic destination. How are you planning to iron out the problems?
Trekkers are attracted to Uttarakhand's slopes and to rope in more of them we have developed 112 trekking routes. Catering to every choice, the routes range from 5-km-long slow walking paths to 169-km-long tough treks.
Keeping the safety of the tourist in mind, we have planed trekking routes that are connected by mobile networks. While trekking even satellite phone connections are also available. All forest officers have the facility of satellite phones. We want the tourist to be close to nature but not jeopardize his security.
Involvement of local residents is very important to boost a region's tourism potential. How do you maintain the balance between the two?
We want to make Uttarakhand the most sought-after tourist destination by 2015. And to cater to the influx of tourists, we are providing job opportunities to local people. Our tourism drive will employ 1.5 lakh residents of the state.
Statistics have shown that rise in tourism has led to the pollution of the Himalayas. What is your government doing to keep the hills pristine?
Last year, a solid waste management system was set up at each of the Chaar Dhams (Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath), which see an unprecedented rush of pilgrims throughout the year. We spent around Rs 42 lakh on waste management. The experiment was a huge success. In just three months, a total of 200 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste was disposed.
In 2008, we put a cap on the number of tourists visiting Gomukh, one of the holiest places for Hindu pilgrims as it is the source of River Ganga according to Hindu mythology. While this may affect our revenues a little, we want to save the fragile ecological system of Gomukh.
We are also keeping a strict eye to prevent tourists from bringing in non-biodegradable waste from outside and dumping it in the Himalayan region.
Tourists often feel threatened by local touts and hooligans. How will you ensure that every tourist coming to Uttarakhand feels safe?
We have raised a special section of the state police as Tourist Police. These cops have been posted at various destinations around the state to help tourists. We have also set up around 44 tourist information centres across the state. We are ensuring that every tourist is accompanied by trained guides, who will keep pranksters away. We also provide ambulance services in case there is an emergency. Tourists will have to dial 108 to call an ambulance.
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