Uttarkashi: As a significant initiative to promote winter Char Dham pilgrimage and tourism activities and to provide year-round employment to the local people, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated a three-day Winter Tourism Conclave.
The conclave saw the participation of 50 tour operators from various states of the country, in collaboration with the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India. In addition, 50 tour operators from the state level and 50 from the local level also participated in the conclave. Registered representatives of the Hotel Association Uttarkashi and Barkot, trekking organizations of Uttarkashi and Sankri also actively participated in the program. The program, held at NIM (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering), focused on exploring the possibilities of winter tourism and emphasized developing Uttarakhand as a year-round tourist destination. Under the three-day Winter Tourism Conclave, tour operators from across the country will visit Mukba, the winter abode of Maa Ganga, and Kharsali, the winter abode of Maa Yamuna, as well as the Kedarkantha trek base camp in Sankri, to promote winter tourism.
Addressing the Winter Tourism Conclave, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the winter tourism conference is not just a formal dialogue, but a collective effort to give a new direction to tourism in Uttarakhand. He welcomed and encouraged the tour operators, travel agents, hotel owners, homestay operators, representatives of taxi and transport unions, and those associated with adventure tourism.
The Chief Minister said that today, major cities of the country are grappling with pollution, rising temperatures, traffic, and stress. In such a situation, Uttarakhand can become a “natural healing destination” for the country, and the government is continuously working in this direction. He said that Uttarakhand is no longer limited to just the Char Dham pilgrimage, but is moving towards becoming a major center for wellness, nature, adventure, culture, yoga, meditation, and sustainable tourism. The Chief Minister emphasized the crucial role of tour operators, saying that creating trends and branding a destination is in their hands. He questioned whether the time had come to make Uttarakhand a 12-month tourism state, not just for 4 or 6 months. He said that the government’s winter tourism policy aims to ensure that the mountains do not remain deserted, hotels do not close, taxis do not stand idle, homestays do not remain empty, and young people do not have to migrate for employment. When tourism remains active for 12 months, the state’s economic condition will also improve significantly.
Interacting with all stakeholders associated with tourism, the Chief Minister said that whether it is permission, connectivity, infrastructure, or marketing support—the government is ready to cooperate at every level. Along with this, the single-window system, digital approvals, and fast-track support for investors are being further strengthened through the tourism department.
The Chief Minister said that tourism does not only mean big hotels, but tourism will be meaningful only when the village woman’s homestay is full, local youth drive taxis, young men from the hills become trekking guides, folk artists get a platform, and farmers’ products reach tourists directly. With this objective, the government has simplified the homestay policy, connected women with the Lakhpati Didi scheme, started local guide training programs, and linked “Vocal for Local” with tourism.
Emphasizing the environment and culture, the Chief Minister said that the government wants development, but not at the cost of destruction. He said that environmental protection, preservation of local culture, and connecting the last person in the village with tourism is the government’s responsible tourism model. He urged all tour operators to include Uttarkashi, Harshil, Mukhba, Nelang, Chamoli, Auli, Munsiyari, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Tehri, Pauri, Rudraprayag, and border villages in their tourism packages. The Chief Minister said, “You create the packages, and the government will stand with you.”
Giving a message to the youth and investors, the Chief Minister said that Uttarakhand is fully ready for investment because here tourism is not just a business, but the biggest engine of employment. He said that the government’s goal is to ensure that hotel owners, homestay operators, taxi drivers, and travel agents all get work, and that every village gains recognition.
On this occasion, Gangotri MLA Suresh Chauhan, Purola MLA Durgeshwar Lal, Minister of State Ram Sundar Nautiyal, Jagat Singh Chauhan, State Vice President of BJP Dr. Swaraj Vidwan, State Media In-charge Manveer Chauhan, Garhwal Coordinator Kishore Bhatt, District President of BJP Nagendra Chauhan, former MLA Vijaypal Sajwan, DM Prashant Arya, SP Kamlesh Upadhyay, CDO Jaybharat Singh, Registrar NIM Vishal Ranjan, District Tourism Development Officer KK Joshi, and other officers and public representatives were present.
