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Business Posted On Sunday, January 24, 2010 | United News of India
Shimla, Jan 24:
Though the country as a whole witnessed a negative growth in foreign tourist arrival last year on account of global recession and also due to the outbreak of swine flu, the hill state of Himachal Pradesh registered an increase.
The hill state attracted 1,14,37,155 tourists during the year 2009, out of these 1,10,36,572 were Indian tourists and 4,00,583 foreigners.
''This is an increase of more than 17 per cent as compared to the previous year, that is 2008'', according to Dr Arun Sharma, Director, HP Tourism.
In the year 2008, 93,72,697 Indian and 3,76,736 foreign tourists visited the State. The percentage increase in the foreign tourists was also above 6 per cent.
Elaborating the reasons for the influx of tourists in the state, Dr Sharma said here today the endeavours of the government was to take the tourists to the lesser known destinations in all the districts of the state. He said the development and diversification of the tourism product was being ensured by triggering of infrastructure development and investment by the leading international players in the state.
The State was poised to witness boom in the unexplored sectors of rural tourism due to rural development initiatives of the government in the shape of polyhouses, reverting back to organic manure, drip irrigation and optimum utilisation of available raw material, he added.
He said that Home Stay Scheme was being marketed more aggressively and the state expected more youngsters to visit the inner parts of the state for exotic and mundane experiences.
According to Dr Sharma, apart from the rural tourists, the state was poised to take a leap forward in education tourism, medical tourism, heritage and geo-heritage tourism. The seasonably and the commonly associated features of a hill destination was also witnessing a major upheaval, he added.
Promotion of adventure sports and measures taken to counter the ill-effects of global warming and environmental degradations will add to the tourist rush in the state, he added.
He said some of the new initiatives started in the capital had evoked enthusiastic and emotional response from the citizens of Shimla. The effort to involve all the stakeholders in the rich cultural historical and built up heritage of the state would see a new initiative.
Dr Sharma said the Tourism Department was coming up with a quiz based upon facts, including history associated with the state capital soon. The winners would be awarded by way of surprises.
'Har Ghar Kuchh Kahta', was a project for each habitant of Shimla and any-one willing to be associated as citizen editor of the coffee table book, could get in touch with the department, Dr Sharma said.
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Friday, September 03, 2010