What major steps have been taken by the Tourism Ministry to revive tourism in the state and also to instill confidence among tourists?
The tourism sector is an important pillar for the economy in the state of Uttarakhand. With the new set of guidelines, we are trying to create a fine balance between the revival of tourism without compromising the health and safety of the tourists as well as residents. We have now completely opened the state of Uttarakhand for tourism. There will be no restrictions on the movement of the in-bound tourists who will register themselves on the smart city web portal prior to their visit.
As a major step taken to further encourage tourism in the state, the Ministry of Tourism, Uttarakhand recently launched the Tourist Incentive Coupon Scheme which allows tourists to avail the discount of up to Rs 3000 or 25% of the accommodation charges (whichever is less) subject to a maximum stay of 3 days. Simultaneously, we have taken various initiatives to ease the financial woes of the stakeholders related to the tourism business by waiving off the renewal fees for hotels, homestays, travel agents and adventure tour agents. The annual increase in the bill of water for hotels, restaurants and other roadside Dhabbas has been pegged at 9 percent instead of the usual 15 percent this year. Very soon, we will open up the adventure and trekking activities in the state along with the set of guidelines to ensure the maximum health safety of the tourists.
In addition to the above measures, we are constantly making progress in the key infrastructure development projects and providing necessary financial aids for the development and maintenance of Homestays in the villages. We have also started the online registration facility for the Veer Chandra Garhwali Scheme and Chief Minister Self employment scheme. With these initiatives in place, we aim to create further employment as well as business opportunities for the residents of Uttarakhand.
What are your expectations from the travel & tourism industry?
Uttarakhand is the only state which has given the status of the sector to the tourism industry and we are cognizant of the challenges, encountered by the travel & tourism industry. Our recent initiatives like compensation of Rs. 1000 to 2.43 lakh workers, reimbursement of the interest incurred on the principal loan amounts and bringing down the annual renewal fees as well as the water bill from 15% to 9% are testimony of our extended support to the local tourism industry in these dreadful times.
While we taking all measures that may revive the sector, we also expect full cooperation from the industry stakeholders to work with us as a team and ensure effective implementation of the rules and guidelines in order to control the spread of the pandemic in the state.
There is a lot of buzz about your upcoming campaign to promote indigenous and immunity-boosting Garwali and Kumaoni cuisine. Kindly shed some light on it?
Uttarakhand is a treasure trove of lesser-known delicacies. Simple yet hearty dishes are in abundance in both Garhwal and Kumaon regions. We are already encouraging the local cuisines through our social media handles and apart from that, we have included a separate section of ‘Cuisines’ in our incoming UTDB website. This section will feature multiple videos of local chefs preparing numerous traditional cuisines. It will also provide the users with options to buy the products used in the preparation of cuisines straight from the website.
What destinations in Uttarakhand will tourists look at given the need for social distancing?
Uttarakhand is blessed with the rolling mist and towering deodars which has always attracted travellers and tourists from all over the world. Having said so, there is no better place to spend the quarantine in than the destinations like Munsiyari in Pithoragarh, Binsar in Almora, Mukteshwar and Pangot in Nainital etc., which offers the best offbeat places that one can visit while still maintaining social distancing, thanks to the remoteness of these locations. The tourists can also choose from an array of homestays in these places which are tailored to provide lodging facilities to the visitors, without the latter having to worry about the social distancing aspect. These homestays are located in isolated yet accessible areas, offering state-of-the-art facilities to the guests.
Tell us about the operating guidelines to be followed in the state for next two-three months to ensure health and safety of the tourists and residents?
Reinstating normalcy in tourism business without compromising on the health & safety norms in view of COVID19, is in the core of our operational strategy. In alignment with this strategy, all tourists travelling from other states to Uttarakhand are required to mandatorily register themselves on the web portal http://smartcitydehradun.uk.gov.in., prior to their journey and follow the SOPs issued by MHA from time to time.
While it is no more mandatory for the tourist to bring Covid- 19 negative test report before check-in hotel/homestay, however the Hotels/Home Stays are instructed to keep the checks like thermal scanning, sanitization and other prescribed health protocols. If so required, the hotel management may frame their own procedure for tourists coming to their hotel.
All adventure tourism agencies are required to give mandatory training to their employees regarding the prevention of Covid-19. The head of the agency/ adventure tour operator has also been instructed to ensure proper implementation of the requisite health measures like thermal screening, physical distancing, covering of the face by masks/shields and frequent hand washings. The agencies are also required to ensure the proper sanitization of the equipment’s used in adventure activities as per the guidelines of MoHF, GoI and state Government after every use.
During the activity, if any guest shows symptoms of Covid-19 infection then the agency/tour operator shall immediately inform the healthcare center and encourage the guest for medical consultation.
Tell us about the ongoing investment projects/ infrastructure developments that will be crucial in boosting tourism and providing employment opportunities to the youth?
In order to alleviate the slump, especially for the people in the rural parts of the state across the hilly terrain, we are focusing towards creating a tourism-friendly infrastructure that allows tourists to explore the rural hilly terrains around the Char Dhaams of Uttarakhand, which are abundant with natural beauty and cultural heritage. In this regard, the construction of nearly 900 km of roads to provide round-the-year connectivity to the famed Himalayan temples of Uttarakhand (whose foundation stone was laid by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in 2016) is nearing completion. Additionally, the Indian Railways too is all set to a lay a railway line of 327 kilometres, connecting Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath of Char Dham, via Dehradun and Karanprayag in the state of Uttarakhand.
In order to promote self-employment opportunities, we have launched “Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Griha Awaas Homestay Scheme” that aims to develop clean and affordable homestay facilities around the Char Dham terrain and generate employment opportunities for native people with an additional source of income for the house owners. Promotion of Home Stays culture is also our priority.
Under the “Trekking Traction Centre Homestay Grant Scheme”, we aim to build the associated infrastructure and provide necessary financial aid for the development and maintenance of Homestays in the villages near the trekking traction centers of Uttarakhand.
Any other developments that we can witness in Uttarakhand post-pandemic?
The post-pandemic travel behavior analysis has brought Health & Wellness and Rural tourism into the lime-light and we see a huge potential of these new segments of tourism in our state. We are working along with the relevant partners to explore the opportunities and develop the tourism-friendly ecosystem around these sectors.
For instance, Uttarakhand is a repository of polyherbs, spices that are known for its therapeutic use and used by the Rishis and exponents of the Ayurveda for centuries. We are considering developing the State as a culinary tourism hub of ‘Himalayan Immunity Cuisine’ by combining the rich heritage of Kumaoni and Garhwali cuisines. Similarly, the return of the migrants has breathed fresh life into many ghost villages across our borders, that are looking lively again as many have begun ploughing their fields. In the post-pandemic, we see it as an opportunity to give boost to the rural tourism.
We are in discussion with the center to lift the ‘Inner Line Permit’ in some areas of the hill state adjoining the border areas with an aim to develop areas for ‘border tourism’. Additionally, we are making efforts to repopulate empty villages in border areas and have sanctioned Rs. 10 crores for developing necessary infrastructure.
We also see a huge potential for Home Stays in the post-pandemic era. Understanding this trend, we recently introduced the ‘Trekking Traction Centre Homestay Grant Scheme’, which aims to build the associated infrastructure and provide necessary financial aid for the development and maintenance of Homestays in the villages, near the trekking traction centers of Uttarakhand leading to self-employment opportunities for the residents across villages.
