Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently reviewed the state’s ‘Game Changer Schemes,’ focusing on boosting tourism through private investment, rural development, and self-employment initiatives.
Tourism: A Pillar for Development
The Chief Minister highlighted tourism as more than just a way to attract visitors. He emphasized its crucial role in driving economic growth, creating local jobs, and curbing out-migration from the state.
Dhami stressed the importance of developing new tourist spots. He also called for assessing the ‘carrying capacity’ of popular destinations like Mussoorie and Nainital to ensure sustainable growth.
Promoting Rural and Winter Tourism
Special efforts are underway to boost winter tourism and improve facilities for visitors during the colder months. The government sees inclusive, tourism-based development as the future of the state.
The ‘Tracking Traction Centre Home-Stay Grant Scheme’ is being fast-tracked. This scheme aims to connect more mountain families with homestays, offering technical and financial support near trekking routes to promote self-employment.
Empowering Local Youth and Communities
The ‘Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Tourism Self-Employment Scheme’ was also reviewed. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure timely loans and grants for young entrepreneurs.
He called for an evaluation of how this scheme is inspiring youth, connecting villages with homestays, and contributing to a reduction in migration rates.
Expanding Tourist Horizons
Plans are in motion for the ‘Golju Corridor’ (Almora, Champawat, Ghorakhal) master plan and developing religious sites in Rudraprayag into an integrated tourist circuit.
There’s a strong push for adventure activities like mountain biking, paragliding, aero sports, and river rafting. A special budget for publicity and assessing site capacities is also on the agenda.
Wedding tourism is another area of focus, with a special campaign planned to identify and promote potential venues. The concept of a ‘Spiritual Economic Zone’ is also being explored, with an action plan for Gangotri and Dhyanotthan as wellness and spiritual hubs due within a month.
Tangible Progress and Future Vision
The ‘Game Changer Schemes’ are not only boosting tourism but also empowering local citizens, especially women and youth. The Chief Minister urged for effective implementation of all schemes, transparent grant distribution, and converting investments into on-the-ground benefits.
In a significant update, over 5,331 homestays have been registered under the ‘Deen Dayal Upadhyay Griha Awas Yojana,’ with nearly Rs 50 crore in grants distributed to 1,085 beneficiaries. This scheme has seen particular success in Tehri, Nainital, and Chamoli districts.
The ‘Tracking Traction Scheme’ has brought 584 beneficiaries into its fold across 115 villages, developing 18 tracking centers, primarily in Tehri, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh.
The ‘Tourism Entrepreneur Incentive Scheme’ has attracted 909 applications under its single-window system. Notably, 70 percent of these investors are smaller players with projects under Rs 5 crore, showing strong local participation.
- Tourism is recognized as a key driver for economic empowerment, job creation, and curbing migration in Uttarakhand.
- Schemes like ‘Tracking Traction Centre Home-Stay Grant’ and ‘Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Tourism Self-Employment’ are empowering local communities.
- The state is diversifying its tourism offerings, focusing on winter activities, adventure sports, wedding tourism, and spiritual hubs.
- Significant progress has been made, with thousands of homestays registered and hundreds of local beneficiaries supported by various schemes.
The state remains committed to building a robust and inclusive tourism sector, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for its citizens.
