HIMACHAL Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) would construct poly houses on experimental basis starting from its complexes at Hotel Chail Palace and Barog in Solan district and cultivate vegetables and other crops for its in-house consumption.
State chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that demand for organic farm produce was on the increase and the same could be instrumental in attracting tourists to visit various HPTDC hotels in the state so as they could witness the cultivation of the farm produce under controlled climatic conditions and cherish the same as local cuisines while staying at such places.
The state government has launched poly house projects at Rs 353 crore while farmers were being motivated to go for diversified farm practices which could improve their farm economy substantially. After successful experiments, the same would be replicated in other complexes under the control of HPTDC all over the state and WOULD add to its income. HPTDC managing director Subhashish Panda said that a net profit of Rs 4 crore had been made by the corporation up to February this year whereas it had targeted a net profit of about Rs 8.5 crore during the coming financial year.
Mr Dhumal said that the state government would explore possibilities of developing Sissu village in Gondhla valley of Lahaul from tourism point of view since the village had comparatively best vegetation, a lake, an attractive waterfall and a helipad to attract visitors to experience close contact with nature. He said that during summer season when the valley opens for tourists on way to Ladakh, people would prefer to spend some time in the vicinity of village.
He said that soon the valley would be connected with all-weather tunnel and the land locked valley in winter would be open for visitors all round the year thereby bringing new dimensions to boost tribal tourism in the area. He directed the authorities to explore possibilities of developing Sissu village in a planned manner which could meet the future requirements as well.
Chief minister emphasised the need for regular skill upgradation of the HPTDC staff and develop best professional skills in them so that they could keep pace with the global hospitality industry. He added that there was need to closely monitor the global hospitality marketing trends and adopt the same to boost commercial activities in the organisation, adding that the organisation also needed to market its hotels in the international and national level tourism trade fairs so that more business was obtained all round the year. Authorities have been ordered to complete codal formalities for construction of proposed three ropeways connecting Bijli Mahadev with Bhuntar, Shri Nainda Devi with Anandpur Sahib and Neugal in Palampur on priority, necessary as tourism infrastructure upgradation measure required to attract more tourists to visit these areas.
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