Lahaul residents ask for sustainable development of infrastructure for boosting tourism

Thursday, October 8, 2020

After the opening ceremony of the Atal Tunnel, Lahaul residents are urging sustainable development of infrastructure for boosting tourism.

The residents are expecting a heavy tourist influx but are apprehensive that the lack of accommodation facilities will adversely affect the tourism industry.

The residents said, “There is need to develop sites for tourists in the Lahaul valley. There is vast potential for the promotion of adventure sports and winter sports. Apart from this, there is ample scope for promoting the spiritual tourism. There are famous Hindu temples like Trilokinath and Mrikula Mata temple, besides monasteries.”

Their major concern is inadequate accommodation for tackling tourist rush. Hence, there is a need to promote homestay facilities.

Dr. Chander Mohan Parsheera, the Director of the Tourism Department, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla said, “The residents of Lahaul had been urging the government for the last eight years to develop the basic infrastructure for the promotion of tourism, but no government paid heed to it. Despite knowing the facts that after the opening of the tunnel, the tourist influx would increase, the government has not taken any step in this direction.”

“In Lahaul-Spiti, there are a few hotels and guest houses, which are insufficient to accommodate the tourists. There is a need to engage the local community to offer homestay facilities for the tourists. People have big houses, while the population is less. Such big houses can be turned into homestay facilities,” he added.

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