Tourism Development in Himachal Pradesh: Emerging Dimensions

Abstract

Himachal Pradesh is the ultimate travel destination of India for tourists, artists, pilgrims and adventures since time immemorial. The natural scenic beauty, architecture, fair and festivals, salubrious climate and environment, snow-capped peaks, lakes, rivers, glaciers, adventure sports, temples of the region have emerged as the main tourist attractions in this region. Those who are hungry for the scenic beauty, this region offers its cultural richness and antiquity with amusement and environmental variety. The booming tourism industry in Himachal Pradesh is an engine to economic growth in rural areas of the state. Tourism planners need to moderate the level of risk at the destination through risk avoidance or enhancement policies in an attempt to satisfy tourists motivations. Tourism has multiplier effect on the economy of Himachal Pradesh. The tourism industry of Himachal Pradesh is making substantial contribution to generation of employment and earning foreign exchange and the government has accorded due priority to ensure its growth over the years. The government of Himachal Pradesh have initiated various developmental plans for the development of infrastructure like railways, air transport, road transport and communication networks in order to promote the tourism in the main tourist destinations. Keeping in view the prime importance of this industry in the state of Himachal Pradesh, through the present study, an effort has been made to study the trend of tourist inflow, assessment of the services/facilities available to the tourists and analyze the attitude of the domestic and international tourists towards these facilities in various tourist destinations.

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