Tag Archives: Himachal Pradesh

Tourism in Himachal Pradesh has seen a surge this year. By May 2024, the state recorded over 7.4 million tourists. This marks a rise of 3.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. Solan district has emerged as the destination with the highest tourist arrival surpassing Shimla. Kasauli and Chail are also gaining popularity.

Himachal Pradesh witnessed an increase in the number of tourist arrivals despite heavy rainfalls and landslides. As per the state tourism department, 1.60 crore tourists, including 62,806 foreigners, visited the state in 2023 as compared to 1.51 crore tourists, including 29,333 foreigners, in 2022.

Himachal Assembly passed the HP Tourism Development and Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2023, mandating registration for tourism units. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu introduced the bill, requiring existing units to register within 30 days without fees until the current license expires.  

Mukesh Agnihotri, Deputy Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, said that a total of ₹300 crore will be spent on the promotion of tourism and water activities infrastructure to create distinct identity for Nadaun-Kaswa and its adjoining areas in the district.

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts declare the grand opening of Presidium Sarovar Portico, Dalhousie, the latest luxury boutique hotel in Mouza Moti Tibba, in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. The opening of hotel represents a significant milestone and marks the growing presence of Sarovar Group’s repertoire of leisure hotels. The hotel is Sarovar’s 4th hotel in Himachal and 9th hotel in the Himalayan range. Nestled amidst breathtaking natural landscapes, the hotel is a sanctuary of serenity and provides an unparalleled retreat experience for families, holidaymakers and adventure seekers. The hotel also serves as the perfect getaway destination for corporate retreats, wellness workshops, and destination weddings. Set in a location with quaint charm, the hotel boast 50 rooms and suites with panoramic views of the picturesque Pir Panjal range. The thoughtfully designed rooms embrace an ambience of elegance with premium amenities and personalized services. From plush bedding to private balconies with breathtaking views, every detail has been meticulously crafted to ensure guest comfort. Thyme,the all-day dining restaurant offers an exhaustive range of Indian and international cuisines. The Hooch, the stylish Terrace Sky Bar offers spectacular views of the verdant greens and a perfect place to enjoy artisanal cocktails, small bites and premium spirits. The Denmakes for a perfect venue for intimate gatherings and conferences. Other facilities include a temperature-controlled swimming pool and a spa offering a variety of therapeutic massages. A K Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotel & Resorts said, “Presidium Sarovar Portico is a proud addition to our leisure hotel portfolio. A rare match of an ace location, colonial architecture and spectacular views, the hotel is geared to redefine hospitality standards in Dalhousie. We are delighted to partner with Presidium Hotels to manage a hotel of such impeccable …

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, CM, HP,  said the government is considering framing a new tourism policy to increase the number of tourists by promoting lesser-known destinations. The government aims to footfall from three to five crore in the next five years.

Amit Kashyap, Director, Tourism, Himachal Pradesh, has said, “This year till may end we have received 72 lakh tourists and by June end we are expecting a huge footfall. In the recent weekend we had a good footfall.” The rise in numbers comes as a result of heat wave in the plains

While the industry is happy of tourism being mentioned in Union Budget 2023-24, tour operators in Himachal Pradesh have demanded to be brought uder a special package to boost tourism. Also, they asked for Bharat Bhraman schemes to be extended in the state in addition to ow-interest rates on loans for tourism business.

Sanjay Wadhawan, a hotelier with 42 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality space, has begun a new innings with his team – Sehar Shamim and US Jamwal – by launching a fully serviced, luxury homestay brand ‘Earthaa Escapes’. The company’s flagship property, Aranya, at Mashobra, has seen great response within a couple of months of its launch and is running at 100% occupancy. Earthaa Escapes is poised to launch its next two properties in the Delhi-NCR region by mid-July, and is in final negotiations with 15 homeowners for signing them on to its platform. Earthaa will also shortly launch a riverside villa in Goa, and already has few other villas under discussion. The first phase of expansion will target states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa. Earthaa Escapes is also all set to launch its own booking engine and website soon.

Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) concluded its first online members’ meet on March 31, which was attended by close to 100 members from across the country, including Kerala, Assam, Ladakh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The meeting, moderated by Capt. Swadesh Kumar, President, ATOAI and Vinayak Koul, Hony. Secretary, ATOAI, helped members and the Association share constructive ideas to survive in present times. Members also got a chance to share their experiences. The keynote speaker for the meeting, Nakul Anand, Chairman, FAITH, briefed members on various topics related to the COVID-19 crisis and explained that the strategy going forward should broadly be divided in two phases – phase-I being survival and phase-II being revival. He also informed members about the various efforts of FAITH for the tourism industry.