Sukhu attends FHRAI convention in Varanasi

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu attended the 56th Annual Convention of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) in Varanasi on Sunday, where he invited investors to invest in the state's hotel industry, stating there were no restrictions on such investments. According to ANI, Sukhu highlighted the state's natural landscape—snow-clad areas, water bodies, and forests—and said the government was making rapid strides in enhancing airport and heliport connectivity.

Sukhu also paid obeisance at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, as reported by ANI.

Push for experiential and lesser-known tourism

The Times of India reported that Sukhu urged tourism industry stakeholders to encourage domestic and international travellers to visit Himachal Pradesh and include new and lesser-known destinations in tour packages. He felicitated hotel industry professionals, travel agents, tour operators, and other representatives of the tourism industry at the convention.

Both ANI and The Times of India noted that the state government is promoting experiential tourism, caravan tourism, and weekend tourism to enable visitors to explore unexplored areas and experience local culture. Sukhu was quoted by ANI as saying, "Our vision is for every visiting tourist to return home having improved their well-being by breathing the clean air of our serene valleys."

The Times of India reported that Sukhu said the state government is giving special attention to strengthening tourism infrastructure.

'She Travel' policy and rural tourism initiatives

Both sources reported that the state is preparing a 'She Travel' Policy aimed at establishing Himachal Pradesh as a safe and welcoming destination for women travellers while promoting women-led tourism entrepreneurship through homestays, local food enterprises, handicrafts, and tourism startups.

To promote rural tourism, the state has introduced a homestay scheme and implemented the Homestay Rules, 2025, providing local communities with opportunities for self-employment, as reported by both ANI and The Times of India.

Connectivity and infrastructure plans

Both sources detailed plans for improving connectivity. The process for expansion of Kangra Airport has been initiated, and Kangra is being developed as the state's 'Tourism Capital'. The government has also decided to develop heliports at or around every district headquarters. According to The Times of India, Sukhu said this would strengthen tourism connectivity and support disaster management, emergency medical services, and connectivity to remote areas.

ANI also mentioned that the government has a vision to develop an Aerocity in the vicinity of Kangra Airport.

Adventure and religious tourism potential

Sukhu highlighted that Himachal Pradesh has immense potential for adventure tourism, including trekking, skiing, paragliding, river rafting, mountaineering, camping, mountain biking, and water sports. Bir-Billing has given the state a distinctive position on the global adventure tourism map, as reported by The Times of India.

Both sources noted the state's rich religious tourism potential. ANI reported that Sukhu said Hindu culture in the state was "rooted in compassion, kindness," and that "people of all ages, whether Gen Z, middle-aged, or elderly, believe in our faith."

Tourist footfall figures

According to ANI, Himachal Pradesh received 3.11 crore tourists from January to December 2025, including 1.66 crore religious tourists. The Times of India reported a slightly different figure of 1.6 crore religious tourists within the same total. Both sources agreed that in 2026, up to July, 1.06 crore tourists visited the state.