Himachal's Green Leap: A ₹200 Crore Eco-Tourism Push

The Himachal Pradesh government has launched a comprehensive eco-tourism policy aimed at developing 77 ecotourism sites across various forest circles, with a revenue target of ₹200 crore over the next five years.

The designated sites span key regions including Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, Solan, Dharamshala, Palampur, Chamba, Dalhousie, Nurpur, Rampur, Nahan, Hamirpur, Nalagarh, and Rekong Peo. Eco-tourism operators have already been appointed for seven prominent locations such as Potter Hill, Shoghi, Solang Nallah, and Kasol, while the remaining sites will be developed in phases.

The initiative offers eco-friendly tourism experiences like trekking, jungle walks, birdwatching, camping, nature trails, and homestays. It aligns with the state’s broader environmental goals, including increasing forest cover to 30% by 2030 and promoting biodiversity conservation.

Community engagement is central to the policy. Eco-tourism committees have been established in every forest circle to ensure local participation. Over 70 youth have been trained as nature guides and 135 as multipurpose workers through HPECOSOC, providing livelihood opportunities in the green sector.

To enhance accessibility, tourists can now book over 100 forest rest houses and campsites online. Additionally, 245 trekking routes have been mapped, and a dedicated mobile app is currently under development to further streamline services and information for visitors.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.