Thaindian News

Shimla, Sep 5 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh’s unique package of a discounted stay in all government-run hotels for couples with daughters has evoked a good response, tourism industry members said Saturday.
Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) is offering a special discount of 30 percent to visitors coming to its hotels with a girl child. The discount will continue till Sep 10.

“Most of our hotels have been packed to capacity once again. The response of tourists towards the offer is quite overwhelming,” HPTDC managing director Subhashish Panda told IANS.

The corporation has 57 economy and high-end hotels across the state.

“The first weekend (since the launch of the package Sep 1) saw thousands of tourists, mainly from northern states, thronging hotels across the state,” he said.

Apart from discount on room tariff, the tourists are being offered a third night’s stay free of charge. “This will be a gift from the daughter to the parents,” Panda said.

According to him, HPTDC marketing offices in Delhi and Kolkata were getting good response to the scheme.

The package is part of the government’s “Beti Anmol Hai” (daughter is precious) campaign launched in Himachal Pradesh in July. At present, the state has 897 females for every 1,000 males.

Rajiv Nag, a Delhi-based stockbroker, said: “The government has added the ingredient of discount in an apparent attempt to tell the parents they are at an advantage, if they have a girl child. Our visit is set to be all the more memorable and economical.”

HPTDC has hotels in Shimla, Kufri, Fagu, Narkanda, Barog, Kiarighat, Chail, Manali, Kasauli, Dalhousie and Dharamsala, among others.

Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh attracted 9.37 million domestic and 367,000 foreign tourists last year. Kullu and Manali are the hot spots for tourists, followed by Shimla and Dharamsala.