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Putting Himachal On The Tourism Map
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By Rabindra Seth
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The two-day Himachal Tourism Conclave in Shimla (December
10-12) organised jointly by the state government and CII (Confederation Of Indian
Industry), said to be the first of its kind was different from earlier efforts
when officials and experts waxed eloquent about the needs of the sector followed
by little or no action. This time around both the state tourism department now
headed by minister G S Bali and CII had done plenty of homework. The chamber
had not only circulated beforehand to participants - experts and potential investors
apart from officials - indepth papers on what Himachal has on offer as well
as a study by Ernst & Young on how the state should go about for achieving
faster growth. On its part, the state government presented a score of destinations
with identified projects for hotels and allied activities like skiing, eco-friendly
resorts and rural tourism. Investors had one on one meetings with officials
to scout for opportunities with a promise from Bali that projects would be cleared
within a hundred days of submission.
Himachal chief minister, Virbhadra Singh, in his inaugural address pointed to
the significance of the timing of the conclave. It has come, he said, in the
wake of the centre’s announcement of a special industrial package for hill
states which among other things offers capital subsidy and tax exemptions for
ten years - a good enough incentive for investors. “We expect,” he
said,”a new wave of investment not only in new hotel projects but also
in other related fields like ropeways, mountain resorts, film cities, adventure
tourism and infrastructure on public-private partnership.” Spurred by Kerala’s
example of a media blitz overseas, the chief minister said Himachal too will
follow suit. And he announced the setting up of a ‘Destination Himachal
Fund’ by the state’s tourism development board in partnership with
the hospitality industry. Minister Bali told this writer later that the state
government planned to set apart Rs one crore as seed money for the fund. Paying
tribute to Bollywood for its role in promoting Kulu-Manali he gave the assurance
that henceforth, the tourism department will act as a nodal agency for facilitating
film shoots. The chief minister, the tourism minister, Ernst & Young and
the participating experts all agreed that lack of connectivity is the single
largest hurdle in the way of tourism’s growth in the state. Bali said the
state has three small airports (including one near Shimla) and as many as 55
helipads. He would incentivise copter services for upmarket tourists. Enabling
the airports to take larger planes, Bali said, was a subject already taken up
with the civil aviation ministry in Delhi. The Union Minister Renuka Chowdhury,
who came specially to address the valedictory session, gave the assurance that
she would put her weight behind Himachal’s request.
Among the many recommendations made at the end of the conclave was Himachal’s
urgent need to build a brand identity and CII’s Vikram Bakshi suggested
to the state government to seek the help of creative minds. Former tourism secretary
BK Goswami, a special invitee at the conclave commended the Vaishnodevi model
for Himachal to develop its temple circuit which is already drawing millions
of visitors in order to help improve the quality of life of the local people.
While there were many other interesting presentations on strategies by experts
like Aman Nath of Neemrana fame, Prem Subramaniam, former British Tourist Authority
man in India and now head of tourism cell of IDFC (Infrastructure Development
Finance Corporation), Arun Budhiraja of Eric McCann and Rajesh Aggarwal of the
railways and now a UNESCO expert, the main topic of discussion during the breaks
and social events was the dream offered by Alfred Ford, the great grandson of
Henry Ford to build a Himalayan Ski Village, possibly in Himachal. If the dream
materialises India would have its first new hill station built six decades after
the Raj ended.
A reference to the ski village was made by the Himachal tourism secretary Ashok
Thakur who told mediapersons that the state cabinet had approved the project
in principle and assured the promoters of the fullest assistance. John Robert
Sims, managing director for the project, who is in India for a feasibility study,
told this writer that the ski village will be a new hill station with both winter
and summer sports specially focussed on skiing. Sims has experience of developing
similar resorts in the US. He is also examining possibilities in Uttaranchal.
In Himachal the area they have identified is above Manali. Investments could
reach a level of Rs 1,000 crore in phases which will come from the US; the host
state will get royalty and the normal tax revenues. As soon as the site is finally
chosen he would sign an MoU with the government concerned. He added, “What
I am looking at is an international standard resort complete with a variety
of hotels, parks, malls which are rooted in the Himalayan traditions to give
the traveller a unique experience.”
Who knows the Shimla conclave might one day turn out to be a landmark in Himachal’s
quest for tourism and progress.
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