Chief Minister Dhami Conducts Virtual Review of ‘Game Changer Schemes’ of Tourism Department

Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday conducted a virtual review of the Tourism Department’s ‘Game Changer Schemes’. The review covered key initiatives under the Tourism Policy 2023, including private sector investments, rural tourism promotion, and self-employment schemes.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister directed officials to present a detailed report on total private investment received post-implementation of the Tourism Policy, the status of MoUs signed, and grounding of projects under various tourism schemes. Emphasizing that tourism should not merely focus on increasing tourist numbers, he highlighted its potential as a tool for economic empowerment, local employment generation, and reversing migration.

He instructed for intensified efforts in promoting winter tourism and enhancing visitor facilities. Stressing the importance of sustainable development, the Chief Minister called for assessing the carrying capacity of major destinations like Mussoorie and Nainital, while focusing on developing new tourist spots.

To increase local participation, especially in hill areas, CM Dhami emphasized connecting more families to homestay programs, ensuring financial and technical support, and swiftly implementing the ‘Trekking Traction Centre Homestay Grant Scheme’ to promote livelihood around trekking routes. He also reviewed the ‘Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Self-Employment Scheme’ and instructed timely disbursal of loans and grants to youth.

He called for impact assessments of these schemes—such as the number of inspired youths, homestay villages, and reduction in migration. He directed the launch of work under the master plan of the ‘Golju Corridor’ (Almora, Champawat, Ghorakhal), and development of Rudraprayag’s spiritual sites into an integrated tourism circuit.

The CM further called for planning regular adventure sports activities like mountain biking, paragliding, aero sports, and river rafting, and proposed a dedicated promotional budget. Special campaigns were instructed for identifying and promoting potential destinations for wedding tourism.

He also proposed presenting an action plan within a month for developing Gangotri and Dhyanuotthan as hubs for wellness and spirituality, realizing the concept of a ‘Spiritual Economic Zone’. CM Dhami remarked that these ‘Game Changer Schemes’ are not only boosting tourism but also economically empowering citizens—especially women and youth.

He stressed effective implementation, transparent distribution of grants, and converting investments into real grassroots benefits. He also advocated expanding the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in border areas and developing theme-based ‘Tourism Villages’ at the panchayat level.

It was informed during the review that under the ‘Deen Dayal Upadhyay Homestay Scheme’, ₹50 crore in grants have been disbursed to 1,085 beneficiaries and 5,331 homestays have been registered, with a target of 245 new homestays in 2025–26. The scheme has seen notable success in Tehri, Nainital, and Chamoli.

Similarly, under the ‘Trekking Traction Scheme’, 584 local beneficiaries in 115 villages have been connected, and 18 trekking centers developed—mainly in Tehri, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh.

It was also shared that the ‘Tourism Entrepreneur Promotion Scheme’ has been launched to attract high-value projects above ₹5 crore and support local investors with projects ranging from ₹1–5 crore. So far, 909 applications have been registered through the single-window system, with 70% of them involving investments below ₹5 crore.

The meeting was attended by Tourism Minister Shri Satpal Maharaj, Chief Secretary Shri Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretaries Shri R.K. Sudhanshu and Shri Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Tourism Shri Dheeraj Singh Garbyal, Resident Commissioner Shri Ajay Mishra, and other senior officials.