Uttarakhand Partners With Swiss Education Group To Boost Tourism & Hospitality Training

Samagra Shiksha Uttarakhand and Swiss Education Group, Switzerland has recently signed MoU to boost tourism and hospitality training in Uttarakhand, at the state's Secretariat in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

The main objective of this partnership is to provide enhanced training in the field of tourism and hospitality to students ranging from classes 9^th to 12^th in the state. As per the MoU, Swiss Education Group will be improving the vocational education curriculum for students in the state.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reportedly said that the agreement will prove to be a milestone in the future for better training in the field of tourism and hospitality under vocational education to the children of class 9 to 12 in the state.

Dhami further emphasised the importance of tourism in Uttarakhand, especially during the Chardham Yatra, where thousands of devotees visit the state. The state government is determined to attract both devotees and tourists to Uttarakhand's religious and tourist destinations throughout the year.

Tourism Significance & Market Size

Tourism sector holds strategic importance in Uttarakhand economy providing several socio economic benefits. Provision of employment, income and foreign exchange, development or expansion of other industries such as agriculture, construction, handicrafts are some of the important economic benefits provided by the tourism sector.

Uttarakhand is rich in scenic beauty with healthy climate and ample avenues for adventure sports and eco-tourism. River rafting, trekking, rock climbing, camping are emerging as serious tourism businesses.

Tourism, according to an estimate, contributes about 6.5 per cent to the Gross State Domestic Product and employs 2 per cent of the state’s population (Tourism is part of the services sector which overall contributed over 51 per cent to the total (GSDP) from 2004-05 to 2013-14. Over 99 per cent of the tourists are Indian.

In 2006, the total number of tourist’s arrivals was 19.45 million. In 2006, Uttarakhand had only 8.4 tourist rent houses per million tourists, 102.5 hotels and guest houses per million tourists and 337 beds available for every million tourists which are not sufficient.

Uttarakhand Tourism Policy

Uttarakhand introduced its first tourism policy in 2001 with the objective of establishing world class infrastructure, attracting private sector for infrastructure development and identifying new tourism destinations. It is one of the fastest growing states in India; the state’s GSDP increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5 per cent between FY15 and FY21.

The number of tourists visiting Uttarakhand has consistently increased from 22 million in 2014 to 39 million in 2019, and registered a CAGR of 11.97 per cent. A recent World Tourism & Travel Council (WTTC) report has pegged India as the 7th largest tourism economy globally in terms of absolute size, and further forecasts the sector to grow at 7% between 2017 and 2027.

Taking cognizance of the fact that the State is environmentally-sensitive and land-scarce, the Tourism Policy endeavours to create a confident and conducive environment which is safer and mutually rewarding – for tourists, businesses, and local stakeholders – and does not come at the cost of disturbing and depleting the ecological wealth of the State. Principles of sustainable tourism, analysis of carrying capacity of destinations and activities, and promotion of high-value-low-volume tourism shall be the cornerstones of tourism planning and policymaking in the State.

Targets For 2030

• Tourism to contribute USD 10 billion to Uttarakhand's economy annually and at least 15 per cent of the state’s GSDP
• Uttarakhand to attract investment of INR 40,000 crore in tourism, and take up minimum 100 PPP projects before 2030 (Investment of INR 30,000 Crore and minimum 70 PPP projects before 2027)
• Tourism and its supporting industries to employ 20 lakh people in Uttarakhand, with women accounting for at least 30 per cent of the total workforce
• To facilitate skill development of 10 lakh workers in tourism and its supporting industries
• To increase average length of stay of tourists in Uttarakhand to 4-5 days
• To increase foreign tourist visits as a proportion of total non-religious tourist visits in Uttarakhand to 5 per cent
• To reach 50 lakh followers on official social media handles of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board
• To ensure that new tourism projects coming up in the State adopt sustainable measures in development and operations
  
  

Storyline of Uttarakhand Tourism

The State has all the necessary endowments to grow into a dynamic and experiential travel destination. Thus, to capture its essence, the state's tourism brand shall be promoted with the storyline of “Simply Heaven”

The state has multiple endowments which make it attractive from a tourism perspective:

Spiritual

Uttarakhand, also known as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, is home to numerous temple towns, Char Dhams (Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath), and welcomes devotees all year round, with Rishikesh and Haridwar being the key gateway hubs.

Wellness

Uttarakhand is the birthplace of Ayurveda and Yoga, and receives travellers seeking solace from busy urban lives. The state’s temperate climate, natural setting and calm environs further strengthen its proposition to such wellness seekers.

Adventure

The state is the ultimate adventure destination and houses multiple thrill seeking activities. Bestowed with snow-carpeted slopes ideal for high-altitude skiing, the Himalayan ranges for trekking, mountaineering and rock climbing, gurgling rivers for white water rafting, pristine lakes for canoeing and kayaking, and mountain paths best suited for biking challenges - there is no dearth of adventure sports here.

Nature

Untouched nature in all its splendour is what Uttarakhand offers visitors. The mighty Himalayas, a rich variety of flora, and fauna, a pleasant climate, and a peaceful and serene environment. From Uttarakhand’s glaciers spring some of the major rivers of India, including the Ganga and the Yamuna. Snow-covered mountain peaks, like Nanda Devi, Badrinath, and Kamet, offer stunning views, while oak, rhododendron, deodar, and pine forests leave one in awe.

Wildlife

A haven for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, ornithologists, botanists, and tourists and adventurers in general - Uttarakhand’s rich and varied wildlife never ceases to amaze. The state boasts as many as six national parks - including the popular Jim Corbett National Park.