Himachal plans houseboats a la Kashmir
August 31st, 2010 - 7:16 pm ICT by IANSShimla, Aug 31 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh plans to introduce houseboats on prominent lakes in the state on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir to attract more tourists.
“Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has directed the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) to explore the possibility of having houseboats in the lakes to promote tourism and generate employment avenues for the local people,” an official statement said Tuesday, quoting Dhumal.
To woo foreign tourists to the hills during the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the HPTDC also plans to announce a special package for the visitors.
The state has already offered a week’s free hospitality to all world record holder players who choose to visit the state during the Games.
The 57 HPTDC hotels across the state have the capacity to accommodate 2,256 guests in 1,051 rooms. It also has 60 restaurants.
Himachal Pradesh attracted 11,437,155 tourists, including 400,583 foreigners, last year. Kullu and Manali are the hotspots for tourists, followed by Shimla and Dharamsala.
- Himachal ties up with three helicopter taxi operators - Dec 06, 2010
- Rs.454-crore ADB loan for Himachal tourism development - Oct 03, 2010
- Tourism: Kashmir's loss is Himachal's gain - Aug 05, 2010
- Himachal warms up to Christmas tourist rush - Dec 23, 2010
- State-run hotels in Himachal rain discounts - Jul 11, 2010
- Himachal wooing newly weds with special discounts - Mar 22, 2010
- Himachal records 16 percent rise in tourist arrivals - Jan 04, 2011
- Heli-taxis to take wings in Himachal - Nov 06, 2010
- 'Sanction Himachal's Yamuna Nagar-Paonta Sahib tourism circuit' - Apr 26, 2010
- Leh floods dip foreign tourist footfalls in Himachal - Aug 18, 2010
- Private operators can ply heli-taxis in Himachal - Mar 11, 2010
- Good Friday weekend drives tourists to Himachal - Apr 22, 2011
- Alliance Air to operate flights between Delhi, Himachal - Mar 28, 2010
- Five-day cultural bonanza begins in Manali - Feb 07, 2010
- Tourists throng Himachal for long weekend - Apr 02, 2010
Tags: avenues, chief minister, commonwealth games, dharamsala, foreigners, himachal pradesh tourism, himachal pradesh tourism development corporation, hospitality, hotspots, houseboats, hptdc, jammu and kashmir, kashmir, kullu, manali, New Delhi, shimla, tourism development corporation, tourists, world record holder