Shimla, May 17
Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) Chairman Rakesh Pathania today said that bookings worth Rs 7.5 lakh had been cancelled in corporation hotels by tourists in the past three days following reports of water shortage in several parts of the state.
Addressing a Press conference here, he said the reports had affected tourism.
He said the HPTDC had taken various damage control measures and had sunk tubewells in a hotel here and also at
Naldera, Peterhoff and Chail. At other places, water was being carried in tankers and the tourists were not facing any difficulty.
Mr Pathania said the HPTDC had decided to diversify its activities by introducing health clubs, ayurveda and entertainment in its prime hotels. A health club with a gymnasium, sauna bath, steam bath and other activities would be made operational at Dharamsala within a month, which would be followed in hotels at Shimla, Chail and Manali.
He said health tourism would be promoted in a big way. A health package consisting of ayurvedic massage and nature treatment would be introduced and tourism promoted in the herbal garden at Jogindernagar.
Private parties would be involved in the project and the HPTDC would provide them with space in prime hotels.
To make Shimla more attractive for the tourists, Himachali food and cultural shows would be organised every Saturday and Sunday at Peterhoff and also at Manali.
It had been decided to dispose of its cafeteria at Dalhousie, McLeodganj, Trilokpur and Baijnath as these were making losses, he said.
