Shimla, Sept. 21 -- Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta on Monday called for a revamp of the state's tourism sector, with greater focus on unexplored destinations, local communities and sustainable development while protecting the fragile Himalayan ecology.
In his first interaction with media professionals at Lok Bhavan, Gupta said incentives should be provided to stakeholders to develop new tourism ventures and distribute economic benefits to remote communities. He said overcrowded destinations should not be allowed to witness further hotel construction.
Gupta said Himachal's potential in religious tourism remained largely untapped and cited Uttarakhand's development of religious destinations as an example. He said he was studying proposals to give tourism a decisive push and would soon meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi with concrete suggestions.
He also stressed the need to improve air connectivity to remote destinations and said he would meet Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to seek assistance for the state.
Gupta, who earlier served as Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said infrastructure development and improved connectivity had accompanied a decline in violence in the Valley after the abrogation of Article 370.
On the Himachal Pradesh State Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Gupta said institutions should retain autonomy despite receiving government funding. On land allotments in Lahaul-Spiti, he said proper norms should be framed.
He also highlighted the media's role in addressing issues such as drug abuse.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.