Subhash Mahajan
Chamba
Dalhousie Assembly’s former candidate and social activist Manish Sareen has welcomed the Himachal Pradesh government’s announcement of a ₹3,000 crore tourism investment package, calling it a transformative step for the state’s economy.
He praised Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s initiative and the proactive role of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) Chairman R.S. Bali, noting their efforts to position the state more prominently on the national and international tourism map.
Sareen highlighted Himachal Pradesh’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and geographical diversity, stressing that such large-scale investment will not only strengthen tourism infrastructure but also generate employment, boost self-employment opportunities, and energize the rural economy.
He added that the decision is timely and visionary, especially in the wake of the post-COVID decline in tourism.
Commending Bali’s leadership, Sareen said innovation and modern approaches in tourism are helping establish Himachal as a premium tourist destination. However, he strongly emphasized that Chamba district, an aspirational region, must be given priority under this package.
He urged the state government to launch special tourism development projects in Chamba, including:
- Construction of an airstrip to improve air connectivity
- Establishment of a water aerodrome for seaplane services
- Development of ropeways at major tourist sites
- Promotion of water sports in lakes and reservoirs
- Implementation of eco-tourism and adventure tourism schemes
- Expansion of roads, accommodation, and tourist facilities
Sareen stated, “If Chamba is developed in a planned manner, it can emerge as one of North India’s leading tourism hubs, creating large-scale employment opportunities for local youth.”
He expressed hope that the government will ensure balanced regional development by giving Chamba a prominent place in its tourism strategy, so that the benefits of this ambitious plan reach remote and underserved areas of the state.
