PM emphasises on boosting year round tourism in Uttarakhand
PNS | UTTARKASHI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the winter tourism programme after flagging off a trek and bike rally at Harsil, Uttarakhand. He also performed pooja at the winter abode of goddess Ganga at Mukhba. Addressing the gathering, he expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic incident in Mana and extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. He said the people of the nation stand in solidarity during this time of crisis, which has provided immense strength to the affected families.
“The land of Uttarakhand, known as Devbhoomi, is imbued with spiritual energy and blessed by the Char Dham and countless other sacred sites”, said Modi, highlighting that this region serves as the winter abode of the life-giving Ganga. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to visit again and meet the people and their families, calling it a blessing. He emphasised that it is by Mother Ganga’s grace that he had the privilege of serving Uttarakhand for decades. “Ma Ganga’s blessings guided me to Kashi, where I now serve as a Member of Parliament”, said Modi, recalling his statement in Kashi that Maa Ganga had called him and shared his recent realisation that the Ganga has now embraced him as her own. The Prime Minister described this as Ganga’s affection and love for her child, which brought him to her maternal home in Mukhba village and had the honour of performing darshan and puja at the shrine. Remarking on his visit to the land of Harshil, recalling his fond memories of the affection shown by the local women, whom he referred to as “Didi-Bhuliyas”, Modi highlighted their thoughtful gestures of sending him Harsil’s rajma and other local products. He expressed his gratitude for their warmth, connection and gifts.
The Prime Minister also recalled his visit to Kedarnath, where he had declared that, “this decade would be the decade of Uttarakhand”. He remarked that the strength behind those words came from Baba Kedarnath himself and highlighted that, with Baba Kedarnath’s blessings, this vision is gradually becoming a reality. Emphasising that new avenues for Uttarakhand’s progress are opening up, fulfilling the aspirations that led to the state’s formation, Modi noted that the commitments made for Uttarakhand’s development are being realized through continuous achievements and new milestones. He added, “winter tourism is a significant step in this direction, aiding in harnessing Uttarakhand’s economic potential” and congratulated the Uttarakhand government for this innovative effort and extended his best wishes for the state’s progress.
“Diversifying and making the tourism sector a year-round activity is important and necessary for Uttarakhand”, said the Prime Minister, remarking that there should be no “off-season” in Uttarakhand, and tourism should thrive in every season. He mentioned that currently, tourism in the hills is seasonal, with a significant influx of tourists during March, April, May, and June. However, he added that the number of tourists drops drastically afterward, leaving most hotels, resorts, and homestays vacant during winters. He pointed out that this imbalance leads to economic stagnation for a large part of the year in Uttarakhand and also poses challenges to the environment.
