Tourism stakeholders in Manali have urged Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to establish a dedicated tourism ministry to boost the state’s ailing tourism sector. Highlighting Himachal’s untapped potential, especially post-Covid-19, former presidents of the Manali Hoteliers Association, Anup Thakur and Gajender Thakur, emphasized the need for strategic infrastructure development and year-round tourism promotion. They stressed that a separate ministry would ensure focused planning and execution.
Supporting the demand, Roshan Thakur, former vice-president of the Manali Hoteliers Association, and Budhi Prakash Thakur, former president of the Himachal Pradesh Travel Agents Association, pointed out that despite tourism being a major contributor to the state’s GDP, Himachal still lacks a dedicated tourism minister. In contrast, neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana already have established tourism ministries.
Key infrastructure issues, including the poor condition of the Kullu-Manali National Highway, inadequate waste disposal, unreliable power supply, and insufficient clean drinking water facilities, continue to hinder growth. Stakeholders argue that without timely government intervention and a comprehensive strategy, Himachal risks falling behind other destinations. They assert that the creation of a tourism ministry is essential for driving sustainable development and maintaining competitiveness in the tourism sector.
