category Regional, shimla , , tags Regional, shimla , , DW BUREAU shimla Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said his government is considering framing a new tourism policy to increase the number of tourists in the state by more than half promoting lesser known destinations. Presiding over a meeting of the tourism department here, Sukhu said the government was aiming to increase the number of tourists coming to the state from three to five crore in the next five years. Nature has blessed Himachal with unprecedented grandeur and there was a need to tap this potential, he said, according to a statement. About 72 lakh tourists have visited Himachal by May 2023, the statement said. Sukhu during the meet instructed the tourism department to evolve a mechanism to accurately assess tourist influx and asked them to improve the basic infrastructure to facilitate the visitors. He said tourism is a big part of the state economy and tourism-related projects a top most priority for his government. The CM also emphasised the importance of marketing and rationalisation of staff in the tourism department. Reviewing several projects aimed at developing Kangra district into the state tourism capital, he directed the department to prepare a concept paper for further consideration. The projects under consideration include a roller skating rink in Sakoh, a golf course in Paragpur, a high-end resort in Menjha, a tourism village in Narghota, and an Aero City, all in Kangra. The government also plans to set up a theme-based satellite village in Naura Khad in Nagrota Bagwaan assembly segment the district, he said. The government is working on expanding the Kangra airport, constructing a greenfield airport in Nagchala in Mandi district, and building new heliports across the state, the statement said. In the first phase, heliports are being constructed at nine places, with one each in Jaskot in Hamirpur district, Rakkar and Palampur in Kangra district, Sultanpur in Chamba district, Manali in Kullu district, Jispa, Sissu, and Rangrik in Lahaul-Spiti district, and Sharbo in Kinnaur district. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the Himachal Pradesh government will spend Rs 4,000 crore to promote green tourism, which will boost the influx of tourists in the state. Sukhu presided over a meeting late on Wednesday to review the developmental projects in the state carried out with the help of Asian Development Bank (ADB), a government statement issued on Thursday said. The Chief Minister said all existing buildings of the tourism department should be effectively utilised, the statement said. Recognising the significance of the tourism sector as a major source of employment and revenue generation in the state, the Chief Minister stressed the need for early completion of projects funded by the ADB. (editor dailyworld.in)