· Sukhu Govt. opens new avenues for border tourism
Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan today in a press statement said here that the BJP is making exaggerated and misleading claims about its performance in the local body and panchayat elections, while feedback received by the Congress party from across the state indicates that a large number of Congress-supported candidates have emerged victorious. He said that the BJP is attempting to create a perception of victory through the media, which is far away from the ground reality.
He said that the Congress-backed candidates would also emerge victorious in the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections, as voters across the state appear to be showing clear support for the Congress party.
Speaking on tourism, Naresh Chauhan said that Himachal Pradesh’s tourism sector had suffered significant setbacks due to the natural disasters of 2023 and 2025. However, the sector is now witnessing a strong recovery, with tourist footfall increasing steadily in major destinations such as Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Palampur, Dalhousie and Kasauli.
Lauding the tourism development initiatives of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, he said that the state government has designated Kangra as the tourism capital of Himachal Pradesh and has launched several major projects to boost tourism in the district. He said that the expansion of Kangra Airport is underway and helipads are being developed in different parts of the state. Various tourism projects being implemented with the support of the Asian Development Bank are also progressing rapidly. These initiatives were expected to attract high-end tourists and significantly enhance the income and livelihood opportunities of local residents.
Naresh Chauhan further said that the government has introduced key reforms in the Home-stay Policy to create self-employment opportunities, particularly for youth and people living in rural areas. These measures would strengthen the rural economy and open new avenues of income generation. He said that the government’s objective was to make tourism the largest and most sustainable pillar of economy of the state.
He further said that due to the sustained efforts of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, significant progress has been made towards reviving border trade with Tibet through the Shipki-La route after a long gap. This will generate employment opportunities and boost tourism and economic activity in border areas. He said that the launch of border tourism in the state was also a result of the Chief Minister’s efforts and was already benefiting local communities.
Naresh Chauhan said that the Congress party respects all religions, castes and communities and remains committed to preserving social harmony and unity. He said that the BJP’s divisive politics has not contributed positively to the development or prosperity of the state. He emphasized that the nation’s strength and progress are rooted in the unity of people across all faiths and backgrounds. He further stressed that public policies and decisions should be driven by the broader objectives of social harmony and public welfare, rather than by narrow political considerations.