The government of Himachal Pradesh wants to promote eco-friendly tourism. They've chosen 11 beautiful places in the forests where people can visit without harming the environment. This way, tourists can enjoy nature, and it helps protect the area.
In a meeting between Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and the Himachal Pradesh Eco-Tourism Society, they emphasized the importance of promoting eco-friendly tourism. They also discussed ongoing projects to improve infrastructure that can support this effort.
According to the reports, the chosen sites for eco-tourism development in Himachal Pradesh include Neugal Park, Swaar, Bir Billing, Saurabh Van Vihar, and Neugal Park in the Palampur forest area. Additionally, locations such as Kheerganga, Kasol, and Sumarupa in the Parvati forest region, the Shogi camping site, Narkanda in Kotgarh, Sojha in Seraj, and Potter Hill camping site under the Shimla forest division have also been identified for further improvement and development.
To safeguard the sustainability of each of these eco-tourism spots, they have been assigned one-hectare areas, and there's a set minimum price to support their development. This approach aims to protect these destinations while promoting their growth.
Expanding on this, Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized that Himachal Pradesh is blessed with unmatched natural beauty, making it a sought-after global tourist destination. He stressed the importance of promoting eco-tourism in the state, not just to attract more tourists but also to increase the state's income. Furthermore, this initiative is expected to create job opportunities for the local residents, which can help boost the local economy.
The Chief Minister emphasized the government's dedication to eco-tourism, stating that their efforts go beyond the initial 11 sites. He revealed plans to discover and develop more eco-tourism locations throughout the state. This initiative is geared towards revitalizing the tourism sector, which was significantly affected by recent floods.
As part of their commitment to encourage sustainable and responsible tourism, the Himachal Pradesh government has recently given the green light for two eco-tourism projects worth INR 16.67 crore.
These initiatives have come to fruition through teamwork involving different government departments like Panchayat Raj, Forest, Tourism, and Rural Development. Their collective efforts are focused on ensuring the successful implementation of these eco-tourism projects.