In Brief

“Both the parties are busy in generating euphoria over the industrial package to the state,where as the demands pertaining to overall development like share in hydro projects,forest rights and special category status have been overshadowed,” said member state secretariat of the CPM Tikender Panwar.

The CPM said both parties the have failed to get the due share for the state under the Punjab Re-organisation Act,which amounts to more than Rs 5,000 crore.

HP new destination for Arabs
Tourists from Arab countries,looking for luxury getaway options across the world,are keen to experience the monsoon in Himachal Pradesh. Soon after Himachal made its presence felt at the recently held Arabian Travel Market in Dubai,the state tourism department has been flooded with queries from across the Arabian countries where the concept of monsoon sightseeing has clicked. Dharamshala is the second place in the world to receive the highest rainfall.

Himachal so far had been successful in selling itself during summers,winters and holiday season,but during the two long months of monsoons when domestic tourists stay away,the state mainly gets foreign tourists from Europe and Israel.

And presents a completely different picture in monsoons. This aspect has caught the attention tourists in West Asia,” said Dr Arun Sharma,Director of Tourism,who represented the state in Dubai.

Himachal participated in the international festival after 14 years. Sharma said Indian films and cricket are the major entertainers in those countries and depiction of Himachal in various films,like the recent blockbuster Three Idiots and holding of IPL matches at Dharamshala came handy for easy identification by people.

“High-end tourists from these countries look for options like facility for chartered flights,with which the state is trying to catch up. Though Himachal has about half a dozen luxury hotels in five star segment,we are also getting queries about places in natural settings even where not very high end infrastructure is not available,” he said.