Himachal Pradesh `Skiing’ Ahead

Rabindra Seth

In a comment on the tourism conclave held in Shimla in December last year, this column had suggested that the proposed Manali Ski Village might become a landmark in Himachal’s quest for a place in the sun.

Not because the state’s functionaries or the experts who took part in the deliberations had unveiled an initiative that was going to make a difference. In fact, it was a dream shared with this writer on the sidelines of the conclave by promoters of a mega Himalayan Ski Village project with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore for which Himachal was one of the possible locations. The state tourism secretary did say at the time that the project had his government’s approval in principle. But one did not hear anything about the project for quite some time.

It will be recalled that the Himalayan Ski Village in India is the brainchild of Alfred Ford, great grandson of Henry Ford, who has already launched a Rs 1,000-crore social welfare project in Mayapur, West Bengal. John Sims, who has a decade of experience of working in this country, is the managing director of the Ski Village project. In an update on the progress made, Sims said two major barriers had been crossed. A technical study conducted on the ground as well as by helicopter has confirmed that the Beas river basin around Manali is ideal. Mike Larson, who did the study, has designed some of the best ski resorts in America and elsewhere. Sims said the task entrusted to Larson was to find out if the chosen mountain area ‘could support a ski resort capable of hosting winter Olympics’ and his finding unequivocally was ‘Yes’. Sims added, “It is the largest, the highest and the best.” Success, he said, would depend on availability of skills and investments.

The second barrier according to Sims, is the MoU. This, he expected the state government to clear within a week or so, after which it will be sent to Detroit where Alfred Ford would sign it. The final agreement might take another six months when ground will be broken. Three years is what it takes a ski village aspiring for winter Olympics to be fully commissioned. That is pretty fast considering that in India even five-star hotels, after the land has been made available, take that long to be built and commissioned. Sims hopes the Indian Ski Village, will be a fast track project.

Did we know that USA and Canada between them have 200 major ski resorts and 500 smaller ones? Sims said France has 461 and Switzerland and Japan more than 200 each. China has a dozen, and our own country just one small one at Auli.

The Himalayan Ski Village, Sims said, will set new standards in eco-tourism with the active participation of local communities. Giving details of the proposed Manali Ski Village, he said it will have world-class ski slopes and ropeways capable of attracting up-market tourists both in winter and in summer. There will be four or five deluxe hotels with an aggregate of 600 rooms, which will reflect traditional Himachal architecture. Along with shopping malls, a Dilli Haat type handicrafts bazaar will be created that will offer local villagers direct business opportunities. For international class entertainment, a theatre complex will be built to host Indian and foreign music and performing arts. And, of course, a major convention complex will be there too.

Sims said that almost the entire investment of Rs 1,000 crore (roughly USD 250 million) will come from overseas, setting a new trend of FDIs in India’s tourism sector. Conscious of the divergence of views on foreign direct investment, he still hoped for smooth sailing for the Ski Village (in fact he would be happy with a ‘level playing field’). The successful take-off of this project, he said, would be a litmus test for the government’s economic reform programme and would bring in its trail a greater flow of investments. Listing the benefits of the Ski Village, Sims said the project would create more than 2,000 direct jobs mostly for the local people and train them for new skills. Panchayats will benefits from royalties; the states revenue from taxes alone would be in the range of Rs 25 crore in the initial stages. Not only the village, but hotels and other tourist services in Manali will also see increased revenues in winter.

Encouraged by the response from Himachal, Sims said Alfred Ford is now toying with the idea of a second Ski Village in Kashmir. He is in negotiation with the state authorities but conceded that the discussions are at an early stage. Remember, the ‘impossible skier’, Sylvan Saudan, who introduced heli-skiing in Kashmir a few years ago had declared the snow there as the best in the world for this sport. The tourism industry will watch with keen interest whether Ford’s dream project will materialise.

(The author is a freelance columnist and can be contacted at rabseth@yahoo.com)