The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to fund tourism infrastructure projects in Himachal Pradesh. This is the first time when the state will be receiving direct foreign assistance in this prime sector and also marketing state?s tourism potential internationally.
A high-level ADB mission headed by Atsesushi Kaneko, senior urban development specialist and Vivek Vishal, assistant project analyst and other handholding consultants is on a three-day visit to the hill state.
Talking to FE Arun Sharma, director, tourism and civil aviation, said, ?HImachal lays great significance to the development as ADB funding would make a huge difference to the tourism sector?.
It is learnt that some heritage projects are being considered for funding. Earlier, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had met a high-level ADB delegation led by Xiaoyu Zhao, vice-president and Hun Kim, country director, ADB.
After meeting ADB Mission members, Sharma told FE that ?Himachal Pradesh would get around $35 million as the first instalment from ADB?. He said the tourism department would complete all the requirements of ADB well in time. The state was also proposing sub-projects concept reports to the ADB for immediate approval. Issues like finalisation of bid document, setting up of project management unit (PMU) and project implementation unit (PIU), expression of interest (EOI) for project management consultant, design and preparation of sub-projects were being finalised.
In the meanwhile, the state plans to introduce houseboats in prominent lakes.
?CM has directed the Tourism Development Corporation to explore the possibility of starting houseboats in the lakes to promote tourism and generate employment avenues for the local people,? officials said.
The HPTDC is also planning to announce a special package for visitors to woo foreign tourists to the hills. Health tourism, sports, adventure and pilgrimage tourism are also promoted.