THE north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh will soon get a new international airport that will provide a much-needed boost in drawing overseas visitors.
Two 152-hectare sites in Solan and Hamirpur have already been shortlisted for the new facility. Himachal Pradesh has three existing airports – in Kulu, Kangra and Shimla, but all are unable to receive large international aircraft.
Subhash Verma, chairman, Travel Plus New Delhi and president, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, said: “The key source markets of the UK, the US, France and Australia will be well served by the new airport and direct international flights. Inbound to Himachal can jump by 50 per cent as there are so many attractive destinations in this state.”
Government officials are also positive, especially with regards to the development of religious tourism, given that Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama’s residence, is located within the state.
Arun Sharma, director of tourism & civil aviation, Himachal Pradesh government, said: “(The number of) high-end religious tourists will swell once we have the airport and introduce the helicopter taxi service. We expect at least a 20 per cent increase in this segment alone.”
Himachal Pradesh received 485,000 overseas visitors in 2011, while 265,000 international tourists were recorded in 1H2012, a growth of 11 per cent year-on-year.
