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Will open 77 new eco-tourism sites to generate Rs 200 crore over 5 years: Himachal CM

The chief minister said Himachal is witnessing a historic transformation in tourism under the Congress government’s vision of ‘Vyavastha Parivartan’.

2 min readShimlaJan 14, 2026 09:32 PM IST

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (File photo)

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday that under the Eco-Tourism Policy, the Himachal Pradesh government plans to open 77 new eco-tourism sites, which are expected to generate nearly Rs 200 crore over five years.

The chief minister said Himachal is witnessing a historic transformation in tourism under the Congress government’s vision of ‘Vyavastha Parivartan’, aligning conservation, livelihoods and economic growth, “an approach completely neglected during the previous BJP regime”.

Addressing a function, the chief minister said, “The state government is developing Pong Dam Lake, a designated Ramsar Wetland, into one of India’s most significant bird-watching destinations, particularly between November and February. The initiative demonstrates that ecology and tourism can grow together under responsible governance.”

Sukhu said, “New attractions such as shikara rides and floating bird-watching decks are being developed to strengthen eco-tourism, offering visitors and ornithologists the opportunity to observe migratory birds arriving from Siberia and Mongolia.”

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The Pong Dam Lake Bird Sanctuary at Nagrota Surian now offers guided bird-watching, while the Regional Water Sports Centre at Khatiyar provides facilities for boating, kayaking, sailing, rowing and water skiing.

Criticising the BJP, Sukhu said previous governments lacked vision to generate revenue from the state’s water resources. “Lakes such as Gobind Sagar in Bilaspur and Tattapani near Shimla, which remained neglected for years, have now been transformed into tourism hubs offering shikara rides, houseboats, jet skis and other water sports.”

The chief minister said Bilaspur is emerging as a national hub for water-based adventure tourism, creating employment opportunities for local communities. “Tourism is not merely recreation; it is about livelihoods and inclusive economic growth.”

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