Eco-Tourism Policy

Himachal Pradesh is a hill state nestled in the western Himalayas. The state takes pride in its natural beauty manifested by the snow clad mountains; alpine pastures containing colourful flowers; landscape dotted with perennial streams, lush green forests, herds of grazing animals, picturesque villages, natives in traditional dresses, and indigenous architecture. The traditional hospitality and crime free society has added to the natural attractions of the state, making it one of the most sought after tourist destination in India.

However, what is generally publicised about this vast plethora of attractions in the state in the name of tourism is just the cool climate and hotel facilities available at various known destinations like Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie or Dharamsala. Tourists, in the absence of comprehensive tour packages, reach the known destinations on their own and start looking for any worthwhile tourist attractions only after landing at a place. Their short stay at a place allows them to visit only the nearby sites, which have become overcrowded and already started showing negative environmental effects of such tourism. On the other hand, the tourists are deprived of opportunities to enjoy the rural, remote and the most scenic parts of the state. Moreover, benefits of such mass tourism are reaped largely by the city dwellers. The state and the large majority of rural people are, therefore, not able to harvest this huge tourism potential.

The main purpose of this document is to develop approaches compatible with the mountain eco-systems and its unique aspects such as fragility, inaccessibility, marginality, diversity, climatic peculiarities, etc. The policy guidelines cover important areas such as Land, Water, Air, Miniral Resources, Health, Biodiversity, Agriculture, Horticulture, Energy and Tourism etc.

The Government of Himachal Pradesh recognizes the importance of an emphatic Industrial Policy statement as an extremely effective instrument to boost the confidence of investors and catalyse industrial expansion in our State. This Policy is therefore intended to lucidly express the State Government’s vision and approach towards industrial sector. This policy also intends to specifically announce the State Government strategy to address a wide range of macro policy issues aimed at boosting investment climate in the State by way of creating and upgrading the existing infrastructure, rationalizing the provision of incentives, concessions and facilities as well as streamlining rules/procedures having a direct impact on investment flows to the State. The Policy Statement also intends to focus on specific micro factors affecting the overall investment climate in the State such as technology upgradation, quality improvement and productivity, so that industrial units set up in the State can effectively compete and keep pace with global standards.