Himachal, Dec 26:
Government of Himachal Pradesh’s initiative to roll out the first-ever Shimla Winter Carnival is expected
to give a fillip to the tourism sector, which has suffered badly since a relentless monsoon brought the hill
State to its knees this year and caused extensive damage to life and property.
“This winter carnival in Shimla is a historic moment for the city as it aims to boost tourism activities in the
State. The recent monsoon fury had adversely affected Himachal Pradesh’s tourism sector but due to the
government’s efforts, the State has recovered from this setback,” said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh
Sukhu, while inaugurating the 12-day-long festival on Monday. The event started with a cultural parade
and a Mahanati (folk dance) performance presented by 450 women from self-help groups.
Amid the Christmas and New Year celebrations, Himachal Pradesh witnessed an influx of 30,000 tourist
vehicles in the past couple of days, signalling a promising revival of the tourism industry in the State. As
tourists continue to throng the hill State, prominent destinations like Rohtang, Sissu, Manali, and Shimla
are witnessing traffic congestion.
“The State government is committed to promoting tourism in the State as it has allocated a substantial
₹3,000 crore budget to the tourism sector, a significant increase from the earlier ₹50 crore.
