SHIMLA 23 August, 2026
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today welcomed and felicitated hotel professionals, travel agents, tour operators and other representatives of the tourism industry from across the country at the 56th Annual Convention of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) in Varanasi.
The Chief Minister urged tourism industry stakeholders to encourage domestic and international travellers to visit Himachal Pradesh and include new and lesser-known destinations of the State in their tour packages. He said Himachal’s peaceful and safe valleys, clean air, pristine waters, snow-clad mountains, lush green forests, rich cultural heritage and simple village lifestyle make it a distinctive destination for travellers from across India and the world. He said today’s traveller is looking beyond conventional sightseeing and increasingly seeks peace, nature, authentic experiences, wellness, culture and meaningful engagement with local communities. Himachal Pradesh, he said, is naturally suited to meet these emerging preferences. Improved road, power, water and digital connectivity has also made several remote tourist destinations more accessible, he added.
Sh. Sukhu said the State Government is promoting experiential tourism to enable visitors to explore unexplored areas and experience the local culture, traditions and way of life at close quarters. Caravan tourism and weekend tourism are also being encouraged. He said the State is preparing a ‘She Travel’ Policy with the objective of establishing Himachal Pradesh as a safe and welcoming destination for women travellers. The government is also working to promote women-led tourism entrepreneurship by enabling women to create livelihood and self-employment opportunities through homestays, local food enterprises, handicrafts, local products and tourism start-ups, he added.
He said the State Government is giving special attention to strengthening tourism infrastructure. The process for expansion of Kangra Airport has been initiated, along with a vision to develop an Aerocity in its vicinity. Kangra is also being developed as the State’s ‘Tourism Capital’. In addition, the government has decided to develop heliports at or around every district headquarters. He said that this will not only strengthen tourism connectivity but also support disaster management, emergency medical services and connectivity to remote areas.
The Chief Minister said the government is committed to promoting sustainable and responsible tourism, ensuring that economic growth goes hand in hand with the preservation of Himachal Pradesh’s cultural, social and environmental heritage. To promote rural tourism, the State has introduced a homestay scheme and implemented the Home Stay Rules, 2025, providing local communities with opportunities for self-employment while enabling tourists to experience the authentic lifestyle of Himachal’s villages.
He stated that Himachal Pradesh has immense potential for adventure tourism, including trekking, skiing, paragliding, river rafting, mountaineering, camping, mountain cycling and water sports. Bir-Billing has already given Himachal Pradesh a distinctive position on the global adventure tourism map. He added that the State is equally rich in religious and spiritual tourism. Major Shakti Peeths, historic temples, Buddhist monasteries and Gurudwaras attract devotees and visitors from across India and abroad, thereby making a significant contribution to the State’s tourism economy, he added.
The Chief Minister asserted that during 2025, from January to December, Himachal Pradesh received 3.11 crore tourists, including 1.66 crore religious tourists. In 2026, up to July, 1.06 crore tourists have already visited the State. He called upon the hotel and hospitality industry, travel agents, tour operators and all other stakeholders to partner with the State Government in exploring Himachal Pradesh’s vast tourism potential. He said that through collective efforts, Himachal Pradesh can be further established as a safe, clean, beautiful and memorable destination for travellers from India and around the world.
