Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Promotes Water Sports to Boost Tourism
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government is actively promoting water sports to enhance tourism. The initiative aims to utilize local water bodies to establish Himachal Pradesh as a top destination for water-based recreational activities, drawing both domestic and international visitors.
Govind Sagar Lake Trials
The Chief Minister said that the trial to operate a cruise in Govind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur has begun, with plans to make these activities available to tourists by the end of October this year. Additionally, the state government is contemplating introducing heli taxi services from Bilaspur to Manali or Kullu to cater to high-end tourists looking for unique travel experiences.
Upcoming Water Sports Activities
Water sports activities in Govind Sagar Lake at Androuli in Una district are also on the horizon. Tenders for commencing these activities have been floated and are expected to be awarded by the end of this month. A target has been set to launch adventure sports, including water sports, paragliding, and other allied activities by the end of this year. A Govind Sagar Lake Carnival will be held at Androuli to formally launch these adventure activities shortly.
Adventure Sports in Pong Dam
Efforts are also underway to start adventure sports activities in Pong Dam of Kangra district. Permission has been secured for commencing water sports activities in Pong Dam at Matiyal in Fatehpur assembly constituency and Nangal Chowk area of Jaswan Pragpur assembly segment. The Tourism Department plans to start operations of Shikara rides, cruise floating restaurants, houseboats, and other soft water sports activities by June 2025.
Economic Benefits
The Chief Minister said that the present state government has taken numerous initiatives to promote tourism in the state and expects to receive around 2 crore tourists this calendar year. The tourism sector is instrumental in providing employment and self-employment opportunities to the youth of the state and is crucial for the economy. Therefore, the State Government has accorded top priority to ramp up the tourism infrastructure to make the experiences of the tourists memorable.
Doubts Revealed
Himachal Pradesh -: Himachal Pradesh is a state in northern India, known for its beautiful mountains and scenic landscapes.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister, who is the head of the government in a state in India.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu -: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is the current Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
Water Sports -: Water sports are activities done in or on water, like boating, jet skiing, and kayaking.
Tourism -: Tourism is when people travel to different places for fun, to see new things, and to relax.
Govind Sagar Lake -: Govind Sagar Lake is a large man-made lake in Himachal Pradesh, created by the Bhakra Dam.
Heli taxi services -: Heli taxi services are like taxis but use helicopters to quickly take people from one place to another.
2 crore tourists -: 2 crore means 20 million. The state wants 20 million people to visit as tourists this year.
Local employment -: Local employment means jobs for people who live in the area, helping them earn money and support their families.
Economy -: Economy is how money is made and used in a place, including jobs, businesses, and trade.
