SHIMLA, Aug. 18 — The Himachal Pradesh government has rolled out a new eco-tourism policy to develop 77 forest-based tourism sites across the state, targeting ₹200 crore in revenue over the next five years while promoting conservation and local employment.
Officials said the sites are being developed in phases in districts including Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, Rampur, Solan, Nahan, Hamirpur, Nalagarh, Dharamshala, Palampur, Chamba, Dalhousie, Nurpur and Rekong Peo.
Seven popular destinations — Potter Hill and Shoghi in Shimla, Solang Nallah in Kullu, and Kasol in Parvati Valley — already have eco-tourism operators in place, with the remaining sites to follow. Visitors will be offered eco-friendly activities such as trekking, birdwatching, forest camping, jungle walks, homestays and nature interpretation trails.
A government spokesperson said the initiative is designed not only to expand tourism but also to strengthen the state’s biodiversity. “Himachal is making strides in enriching its green wealth, with a goal of increasing forest cover to 30% by 2030,” the official said.
Local participation forms a central part of the plan. Eco-tourism committees have been set up in each forest circle, while youth are being trained as guides and workers. So far, more than 70 guides and 135 multi-purpose workers have been trained by the Himachal Pradesh Eco-Tourism Society (HPECOSOC), generating employment and encouraging environmental stewardship.
To streamline visitor experience, over 100 forest rest houses and camping sites are now available for online booking through the HPECOSOC portal. A trekking management system with more than 245 marked routes, categorised by difficulty, has also been introduced. Additionally, a mobile app is under development to help tourists plan and navigate their trips.
Officials said the eco-tourism policy seeks to balance revenue generation with sustainability, ensuring that development complements conservation across the Himalayan state.
