CM Sukhu Inaugurates Shimla Winter Carnival, Highlights Tourism Push and Visitor Safety.
Shimla:
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday inaugurated the Shimla Winter Carnival, organised by the Shimla Municipal Corporation, at the historic Ridge in Shimla. Marking the beginning of the much-awaited winter festivities, the Chief Minister also flagged off a colourful cultural parade showcasing folk troupes from all districts of Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister visited a painting exhibition at the Gaiety Theatre and witnessed the vibrant Maha Nati performance, besides attending the Home Guards Inter-Battalion Band Competition held near the Town Hall. He congratulated the organisers and extended his best wishes for the successful conduct of the carnival, which is being organised this year on the theme of a “Drug-Free Himachal”.
Welcoming tourists to the State, CM Sukhu said that Himachal Pradesh’s serene, pollution-free environment offers peace, recreation and health benefits to visitors. Interacting with tourists, he enquired about their experiences and assured them that the State Government was committed to ensuring their safety and convenience during their stay.
The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh is richly endowed with natural beauty and picturesque valleys, attracting crores of tourists every year. He added that while the State Government is strengthening basic infrastructure to boost tourism, equal emphasis is being laid on showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the State. The Shimla Winter Carnival, he said, offers diverse attractions in the ‘Queen of Hills’, while a similar winter carnival is also being organised in Dharamshala.
Highlighting the economic significance of such events, CM Sukhu said that festivals and carnivals play a vital role in strengthening the local economy and creating livelihood opportunities. He noted that tourist arrivals in Himachal Pradesh are increasing steadily, reflecting growing confidence among visitors.
Emphasising eco-tourism, the Chief Minister said that keeping in view the vast potential in this sector, the State Government has notified a revised Eco-Tourism Policy. Under the policy, 11 eco-tourism sites have already been allotted by the Forest Department, while the allotment process for 27 additional sites is in its final stage. From 2023 to November 2025, nearly Rs. 6 crore has been generated through various eco-tourism activities, he added.
To promote home-stays, CM Sukhu said that the State Government has launched an interest subsidy scheme and introduced an online portal for home-stay registration to simplify procedures. He further informed that the Tourism Investment Promotion Council has been constituted to attract investment and facilitate sustainable growth in the tourism sector.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Secretary AICC Vidit Chaudhary, MLAs Harish Janartha and Vivek Sharma, Mayor Surinder Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, Vice-Chairman of the State Forest Development Corporation Kehar Singh Khachi, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, ADGP Satwant Atwal Trivedi and Abhishek Trivedi, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, SP Sanjeev Gandhi, Commissioner MC Bhupendra Atri, councillors and other senior officers and dignitaries were present on the occasion.
