Investment Opportunities in Himachal Travel Industry:

There is a need to develop an entirely new tourism city equipped with all modern amenities. Rajgarh Valley in Sirmaur District is an ideal place for it because of its proximity to the plains. This complex could be an integrated project with facilities for adventure sports, game recreation health club amusement parks, spas, film city, conference halls etc. Because of its proximity to Chandigarh, Such conferences could be organised at this place. This is an ideal place for private sector investment and on its part, government will provide all necessary assistance including procurement of land. This is a major project, which will involve investment of approximately Rs. 100 Crores in terms of facilities and infrastructure.

MAJOR CHAIN OF FACILITIES: The State Government also poses for investment Bilaspur-Una-Hamirpur-Kangra sector for massive investment by private sector, for land has been identified especially that adjoining the lakes in Gobind Sagar and Maharana Pratap Sagar. This area is ideal for setting up of amusement parks, herbal gardens, lake resorts and floriculture. The entire belt is dotted with numerous religious places which can be developed for the development of a major chain of facilities for use by tourist. This area is ideally suitable for adventure sports, water sports, wild life and eco-tourism. To just name a few, Pragpur which has been declared a Heritage Village and Masroor, an old rock temple are located in this sector. The Judge's court at Pragpur in Kangra District is a success story as a Heritage Property. Similarly, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Kangra also have religious places like Baba Barbagh Singh, Deot-Sidh and Shakti temples like Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Chamunda.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FACILITIES FOR TOURISTS IN TRIBAL AREAS: The tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh are known for natural beauty and have recently been opened up to foreign tourists can visit this area in a group of four or more. There is an urgent need to provide clean international standard facilities for tourists visiting this area. This area is open for private sector investment for creation of facilities for tourists. The thousand years old Buddhist Monastery of Tabo in Spiti with its fine paintings has been declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

ROPWAYS AND SKI-RESORTS: Other areas which are opened for large investment, are for the development of ski-resorts, lakes and ropeways. a sky-resort can be developed near Chanshal range, which is one of the largest ranges for skiing in the country even bigger than this ski range in Uttar Pradesh. Another beautiful area for ski-resort alongwith a couple of ropeways is the area above Solang in Kullu Valley. This is one of the last areas for the development of a ski-resort. The State Govt. will provide all assistance in terms of clearance including forest clearance. Of course our emphasis is to develop tourism facilities in such a way so that the fragile ecology of the State is preserved ans is not tampered with. There are many identified ropeways in Himachal Pradesh. These are Kullu to Bijli mahadev (in Kullu), Mandi to Tarna (in Mandi town), Dharamkot to Triund (in Dharamshala), Narkanda to Hattu Peak and Tara Devi to Shimla (in Shimla) which are ready for private sector investment.

HERITAGE PROPERTIES: Himachal has an enormous range of heritage properties. Some of these are ancient forts and some of these are colonial mansions. Then there are places that belongs to an era gone by and marked opulent life style of India's Princes and then there are century old hotels. Many of heritage properties have been converted into commercial heritage property and are being developed. Big hotels chain can have a look at some of these properties are for being developed as Heritage Property. Some colonial buildings can be found especially in Kasauli and Dalhousie for their development as Heritage properties. Many States like Rajasthan have developed heritage properties with the active participation of private sector for development of these "Heritage Properties".

ADVENTURE SPORTS: Himachal Pradesh has excellent scope for adventure tourism. For example para-gliding, hand gliding, white water rafting, mountaineering and trekking. There are 270 identified treks in Himachal which are utilised by domestic and foreign tourists. Trekking equipments is also made available by the department to interested tourists and regional branch of Himalyan Mountaineering Institute, Dharamshala is also playing important role in this direction. Many organised groups for example Excursion from London are also sending groups of tourists for trekking to Himachal Pradesh. Himachal is full of beautiful places many of them are totally unexplored and unknown and hence hold immense lure for the tourists. Private sector can also play a big role in the provision of appropriate transport arrangement for tourists from outside the State.

CIVIL AVIATION: Civil Aviation is Very Important area for Private Sector Investment. At present the State can offer three airports for private sector participation. These airports are Banikhet in Chamba district, Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur District and Sunder Nagar in Mandi Districts. In addition the private sector is also welcome to give there offers for starting helicopter services within and outside the State so as to improve accessibility to and within the State.