Himachal reviewing its tourism policy: Virbhadra Singh

Himachal Pradesh has been reviewing its tourism policy with focus on sustainable tourism development in consultation with the World Bank, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said here Wednesday.

"Our tourism policy of 2005 is being reviewed with technical assistance from the World Bank to give more emphasis to sustainable tourism development," the chief minister said.

Presiding over a meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and the tourism and civil aviation department, he said that given the prospective growth of tourism in Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts, a perspective tourism development should be prepared for these districts.

"Wi-Fi system will be provided in entire Keylong and Spiti (Lahaul-Spiti) so that entire tribal region could be provided communication connectivity throughout the year," an official statement quoted Virbhadra Singh as saying.

He also launched an SMS-based software to enable tourists to send their queries, suggestions and complaints instantly to the tourism department.

Tourism director Subhasish Panda said the SMS-based software would help the tourists to send queries, complaints and suggestions through SMS on number 51969 by writing 'hp tour' and the message.