Tourism could not be developed in Himachal Pradesh as desired despite vigorous steps being taken to promote it and as a result, the contribution of the industry in GDP is about 10 per cent. 

Economic expert Pardeep Kumar, also Principal of KLB DAV Girls College Palampur, stated this to UNI in connection with World Tourism day tomorrow and added that the main reason is that there is dearth of efficient manpower in providing travelling services and welcome sectors. He said after getting statehood in 1971, Himachal has made tremendous progress in the field of agriculture, industry, banking and insurance. He said tourism here has made significant improvement especially in post economic reform period. He said the number of Indian tourists increased from 1.48 lakh to 180 lakh and foreign tourists from 0.08 lakh to 4.53 lakh during the period 1992 to 2016. He said that total number of tourists enhanced from 1.56 lakh to 184.51 lakh during the same period. 

Dr Kumar said that during last two decades, the number of Indian tourists increased more rapidly in comparison to foreign tourists. He said that now a days medical tourism is playing a significant role and India occupies important place among the Asian nations in medical tourism. In foreign countries medical facilities are very costly so India has become the prominent destination for medical tourism. The main reason is medical expenditure incurred is one third to one eighth in India in comparison to the US and UK hence the medical tourism in Himachal Pradesh is the need of the hour and good medical facilities can be developed with the help of Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, he added. 

He said that in this regard, all the efforts should be made to promote medical tourism here by the corporate sector and the government. Special incentives must be given to those investors who wish to invest in tourism industry in this hill state. All these steps would attract more tourists and generate employment opportunities and reduce poverty also. As a result the contribution of tourism industry in GDP would increase and this hill state would certainly achieve first place in tourism at National and International level on the one hand and higher rate of economic growth on the other, Dr Kumar said.