Shimla: Forest rest houses operating under eco-tourism in Himachal Pradesh will soon be available for booking on Online Travel Agency (OTA) platforms. The state government has approved the selection of a channel manager, with Bhubaneswar-based Booking Genie Private Limited entrusted with the responsibility.
In the first phase, 25 forest rest houses managed by the Eco-Tourism Society of the Forest Department will be brought onto the OTA platform. The move aims to give a major push to rural tourism in the state by making bookings more accessible and transparent, on the lines of platforms like MakeMyTrip.
The selected company will develop and operate the booking system. The department has asked the firm to complete the required formalities, including signing an agreement, after which the project will move to the implementation stage. Initially, the system will be launched on a trial basis. If successful, more forest rest houses will be added to the platform in future phases.
Sanjay Sood, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said the state government has granted approval for the selection of the channel manager and further steps will be taken once formalities are completed.
Several forest rest houses in Himachal are located in remote yet scenic areas that receive fewer visitors due to lack of awareness. Bringing them onto OTA platforms will improve their visibility and enable tourists from across the country and abroad to book them easily.
