PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The State government claims that its efforts to boost tourism and pilgrimage have borne fruits with more than 23 crore tourists visiting the State during the past three years. The increase in tourist footfalls has supported the livelihoods of the operators of homestays, hotels, Dhabas, women self-help groups and those involved in transport and related trades.
According to information provided by the Tourism department, the State has been visited by more than 23 crore tourists during the past three years. Officials claim that the change seen is that various facets of tourism have developed in recent years. The tourist footfalls are no longer limited to major cities and popular hill stations but have also spread to distant and smaller tourist destinations in various parts of the State. Along with this the number of visitors from across India and abroad arriving in Uttarakhand to indulge in adventure activities like rafting, trekking, bungee jumping and mountaineering has also registered an increase. Lakhs of persons in Uttarakhand are directly benefitting from this rise in tourist activity. These include those in the business of hotels, restaurants, homestay operators, those in the transport business and women self-help groups, among others. According to officials, presently more than 6,000 homestay operators are directly benefitting from the enhanced tourism activities in the State.Apart from tourism activities, the number of people arriving in the State for pilgrimage has also seen a rise in recent years. According to official data, at least 50 lakh persons have visited the State as pilgrims so far this year. More than 4,300 pony-mule operators did business on the Kedarnath and Yamunotri bridle paths this year. The State government is also focusing on encouraging the winter Yatra with the closure of the Char Dham for the winter. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that tourism is the base of the economy in Uttarakhand. “Tourism and pilgrimage directly benefit the local residents. Considering this, the State government is striving to facilitate tourism and pilgrimage throughout the year. The visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have also boosted pilgrimage and tourism in the State,” Dhami said.
